“Atiku: A Talent Discoverer. His Vision for Nigeria Hooked Me Instantly,” Says Kenneth Okonkwo

By Emmanuel Kwada

Barrister Kenneth Okonkwo has praised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as a leader with a clear vision for Nigeria, describing him as a “talent discoverer” whose ideas for national development immediately won his admiration.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Okonkwo recounted his first meeting with Atiku on March 1, 2025, saying the encounter changed his perception of the former vice president and convinced him that Atiku possesses the leadership qualities needed to address Nigeria’s longstanding challenges.

According to Okonkwo, Atiku personally invited him for discussions, and their interaction left a lasting impression. He described the former vice president as a pleasant and patriotic statesman committed to the progress of the country.

“The whole idea is that Atiku Abubakar is a talent discoverer,” Okonkwo said. “When I met him the first time and he told me his vision for this country, I was captivated.”

The former presidential campaign spokesman explained that his support for Atiku was informed by a deliberate decision to study political leaders more closely before publicly identifying with them. He noted that past political experiences had taught him the importance of understanding a leader’s character, vision and capacity before speaking on their behalf.

Okonkwo said Atiku’s vision is centered on building a united, secure and prosperous Nigeria where citizens can live productive and fulfilling lives. He argued that the vision translates into practical priorities, including national unity, security, economic growth, education, healthcare and constitutional restructuring.

Of these priorities, he said restructuring remains particularly important to him, describing it as a critical component of Nigeria’s future stability and development.

He further noted that Atiku understands that good policies and well-written manifestos alone cannot transform a nation without effective leadership and implementation.

“His mission is to provide the political leadership necessary to implement his developmental agenda and realize his vision,” Okonkwo stated. “Our problem in this country is implementation. Enough of all these words.”

The former Labour Party chieftain maintained that Atiku’s approach to governance would be action-oriented, insisting that the former vice president has demonstrated the capacity to deliver results in public office.

Drawing from Atiku’s years in government between 1999 and 2007 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Okonkwo argued that the former vice president played a key role in the economic reforms of that era.

He credited Atiku with helping to assemble a team of competent professionals, including Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and recalled Nigeria’s successful debt relief efforts during the period.

According to him, rather than increasing the nation’s debt burden, the economic team worked toward reducing Nigeria’s liabilities and improving the country’s financial standing internationally.

Okonkwo’s remarks are particularly significant given his previous political association with Peter Obi. During the interview, he acknowledged that he had become more cautious in endorsing political figures after his experience supporting Obi, whom he later distanced himself from following political disagreements.

His comments come as political conversations ahead of the 2027 general elections continue to gather momentum, with major political actors and their supporters increasingly outlining competing visions for Nigeria’s future.

For Okonkwo, however, Atiku’s leadership credentials, talent-spotting ability and development-focused agenda remain key reasons for his confidence in the former vice president’s capacity to lead the country.