Democracy irrespectively of its attractions therefore needs special ingredients to thrive, especially in a developing society like Nigeria. This is so because the people are just beginning to grapple with the intricacies of the phenomenon. In a situation like ours, where the predictable-system induced ingredients have been satisfied, then we are left at the mercies and the vagaries of the unpredictable and the co-incidental ingredients that are equally vital, if not the most vital ingredients of a viable democracy.

The vital ingredient is the leadership that inspires and motivates the people at a given time and period to attain a countrys given potential. It could also be the vital push for already attained achievements to be further consolidated.

In most situations the coincidental effect or factors make the leadership responsibility to fall on those people that would have prepared or other wise for the task to be entrust to them by these unforeseen factors.

The first American president, George Washington believed that his people were being trampled upon by the imperialistic colonial powers of that time. He led a great battle against Great Britain. A battle some military historians would term suicidal. He was resolute and determined to lead America to freedom. The task was achieved, but little did he fathom that the situation was entrusting in him a task that would later be a rallying point for the whole America and the new found and relished freedom.

Mahatma Ghandi was also fighting injustice and colonialism, rather in a non-violent manner. This earns him and his country an eventual freedom. And this also entrust leadership of that great country on him. Purely, he was concerned about the colonial masters leaving but in a coincidence he became a rallying point the country need to become a true nation.

Dr Mahathir Mohamed went to school in the west. He saw how an economy and the social existence of a country could be organised to bring the maximum benefit to the people. It spurred him into action and vision for a better Malaysia. Single minded he started a social revolution that will put Malaysia ahead of his peers and even above some western countries where he learned. He became a rallying point for his people that are continually pushing them to attain their Gods given potential.

Coming back to Africa, South Africa was in a great turmoil in the apartheid days. There was this struggle against apartheid. Nelson Mandela and his co- revolutionaries were fearless, insisting on the abolition of the obnoxious and inhuman practise. But all the while, they had an insight into their freedom. A young dynamic member of ANC, Thambo Mbeki was sent to England to study and learn from Great Britain and the likes. He prepared among other things, how to prosper the republic of South Africa when the freedom finally comes. Of- course. Freedom was attained and Mbeki having understudied the Icon, Nelson Mandela for the

Period of 4 years, whose task essentially was to heal the wound of the past, became the real rallying point where quessentential South Africa started off.

Coasting home in West Africa, George weah, the legendary Liberian footballer who has proven to be best thing that has happened to that country after a chaotic - war ravaged past is poised to take the reigns of the leadership of that traumatised country. He is the veritable rallying point. The man generally looked up to in the country to provide the push that will break the country away from the sordid past and put them on the path of greatness.

These kinds of examples are bound all over the world, especially countries that have witnessed monumental progress and social development. Apart from the vagaries of circumstance throwing up these kinds of leadership icons, the given society should all endeavour to recognise the signals of this social re-arrangement because it is the proper thing to do. And more so it is one of the sure ways to a countrys attaining greatness.

Nigeria with her vast resources is craving to attain greatness and rightly so, deserves to understand the dynamics of the social engineering and evolution. Especially that we are smarting up from a chaotic past, that we are fast putting behind us courtesy of the present administration that is always trying to do the right things however painful.

Nigeria is such a big diverse and talented people, it is however a known phenomenon that what has always being holding us down is absent of that leader that will rally all interests, motivate people, inspire respect from the citizenry, respect people in-return, be accepted to all shades of people irrespective of their ethenic, political and religious affiliations. The present of a man that has built bridges across all sectors of the country and so on.

God has in his infinite mercies has entrusted such a person to us as a country. We only need to be more resolute about what we really want as a people with common destiny.

It is in the news that ANPP governors are rooting for him because they believe in his leadership style, his preparedness and the situation that has thrown him up. He commands the respect and enjoys the backing of over 22 governors of the ruling PDP, because the revere him as a leader per excellence. Even the hard working and only AD governor of the most populous state in Nigeria attests to his leadership qualities in public fora a now and again He has indeed built relationship that has transcend political barriers.

Various state houses of assemblies and federal legislation have also shown their respect time and time again. Religious leaders are daily praising his liberalism and responsibility towards their concerns in a non-discriminatory manner. Traditional rulers, opinion leaders and most importantly the human right communities have come to trust and believe in him.

For once Nigerians seems to have agreed on something that is an essential springboard to our development and greatness. Come 2007,Nigerians should just be on their guard and consolidate. God has already conferred the leadership qualities that were honed over time and the situational prerequisite on the Turaki Adamawa, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

All these thresholds the social condition has provided is to rally us as a country to achieve our Gods given potential as the leader of the black race. He paid his dues diligently. He was magnanimous to a fault .He has made Nigerian and Nigerians his friends and he is well loved in the process. Collectively, we are on the verge of getting it right.

Nigerians should also watch it .We cannot afford to be complacent because there are some few that have always believed that the country should be the extension of their personal estate. They have never wished Nigeria well, they could still be lurking even after they have being forced out of the saddle. They had their ample opportunity, but they choose to be destructive and manipulative.

Let us face them and convey the message that we have found our voice, our destiny and our ralling point in Alhaji Atiku Abubakar come 2007.

God bless Nigeria.