Atiku Abubakar Biography

Atiku Abubakar is a Nigerian politician, businessman, and philanthropist who served as the Vice President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 during the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo. He is the founder of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), the first private university in the Northern part of Nigeria.

Early Life and Education

Atiku Abubakar was born on November 25, 1946, in Jada, Adamawa State, Nigeria. He is the sixth and last child of Garba Abubakar, a Fulani trader and farmer, and Aisha Kande. He was orphaned at a young age and had to work to support himself and his family.

Abubakar attended Jada Primary School from 1954 to 1960. He then went on to Adamawa Provincial School, Yola, from 1961 to 1965. In 1967, he was admitted to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he studied law. He graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Laws degree.

He also attended the Nigeria Police College, School of Hygiene, and Anglia Ruskin University. 

Atiku Abubakar Career

After graduating from university, Abubakar worked as a customs officer for the Nigerian Customs Service. He rose through the ranks to become the Deputy Director of Customs and Excise in 1982.

In 1983, Abubakar retired from the customs service to pursue a business career. He founded several successful companies, including Intelsat Nigeria Limited, a telecommunications company, and Rico Gardo Limited, a real estate company.

Abubakar is an entrepreneur and has been described as an affable, enterprising figure who moves adroitly between the worlds of commerce and politics. He has been recognized for his contributions to the development of higher education on the continent of Africa. 

Abubakar is a sponsor and member of the finance committee of the World Constitution and Parliament Association, and he is also a member of “World Citizens” based in France. These organizations promote world peace and understanding.

Atiku Abubakar Political Ambition

Abubakar has been involved in Nigerian elections for decades and has recently fluctuated between the two dominant parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), where he was a founding member, seeking a shot at the presidency.

Abubakar entered politics in the early 1990s. He ran for governor of Adamawa State in 1991 but lost. He was elected governor in 1999 but left it to become the vice president.

In 1999, Abubakar was elected Vice President of Nigeria on the ticket of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He served two terms in office.

Abubakar has run for president of Nigeria six times, in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023. He has lost all six times.

Philanthropy

Abubakar is a philanthropist who has donated millions of dollars to charities and causes in Nigeria. He is the founder of the Atiku Abubakar Foundation, which provides education, healthcare, and economic empowerment programs to the less privilege and disadvantaged.

Personal Life

Abubakar is married to Titi Abubakar and has four children. He is a Muslim and very active on social media.

Abubakar’s vast wealth has caused his opponents to accuse him of using his position in government to enrich himself and by channeling government funds and foreign investment towards his own companies. 

He has been investigated on suspicion of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from US firms in return for promoting their goods in Nigeria. Abubakar has been married several times, and he has children from his marriages.

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Awards and Recognition

Abubakar has received numerous awards and honors, including the Order of the Niger (OON) in 2000 and the Grand Officer of the Order of the Republic of Guinea (GCRG) in 2004.

Where did Atiku Abubakar attend school?

Atiku Abubakar attended the following schools:

• Jada Primary School, Adamawa
• Adamawa Provincial Secondary School, Yola
• Nigeria Police College, Kaduna
• School of Hygiene, Kano
• Ahmadu Bello University 

He graduated from Ahmadu Bello University with a Diploma in Law.

What did Atiku Abubakar study at the Nigeria Police College?

Atiku Abubakar studied for a short while at the Nigeria Police College in Kaduna. However, he left the college when he was unable to present an O-Level Mathematics result.

What are Atiku Abubakar’s political views?

Based on his political career and campaign promises, below are some of his views. 

Atiku Abubakar is a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and has run for president multiple times under the party’s banner. He has campaigned on promises to restore Nigeria’s economy, create jobs, and promote peace and security. 

During his time as vice president, he oversaw successful reforms in the telecommunications, pensions, and banking sectors that led to job creation and GDP growth. 

Abubakar has also been involved in promoting world peace and understanding through his membership in organizations such as the World Constitution and Parliament Association and “World Citizens” based in France. 

Abubakar’s opponents have accused him of using his position in government to enrich himself and his companies. However, he has denied these allegations and has stated that he is committed to promoting the welfare of Nigerians. 

Overall, Abubakar’s political views seem to be focused on promoting economic growth, job creation, and peace and security in Nigeria.

What is Atiku Abubakar net worth?

Atiku Abubakar’s net worth is estimated to be around $1.4 billion to $1.8 billion, according to various sources. He is recognized as one of Nigeria’s wealthiest politicians and has diverse investments spread through real estate, industry, and other sectors. 

Atiku is a co-founder of Intels Nigeria Limited, an oil servicing business with extensive operations in Nigeria and abroad. He also owns an Embraer Phenom 100 personal luxury plane worth millions of dollars.

Atiku Abubakar’s corruption scandals

Atiku Abubakar has been involved in several corruption scandals and allegations throughout his political career. Here are some of the controversies associated with him:

Financial Crimes Allegations

Atiku Abubakar and his family members were placed under close watch by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), an agency of the US Department of Treasury, over alleged financial fraud. 

Habib Bank Limited in New York also filed a suspicious activity report, citing Atiku Abubakar’s history of alleged corruption, after its Dubai office received the payment. The report says GTCN exists to “manage a blind trust” for Atiku Abubakar’s benefit, according to documents received by the U.S. Senate.

 Academic Records Controversy

In 2019, Atiku Abubakar was embroiled in a controversy over his academic records. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party alleged that Abubakar did not possess the necessary qualifications to run for president. Abubakar denied the allegations and filed new documents in the Supreme Court to prove his qualifications

Fluctuating Political Affiliations

Abubakar has been accused of being opportunistic and lacking political principles due to his fluctuating political affiliations between the two dominant parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Corruption Allegations

Abubakar has been accused of using his position in government to enrich himself and his companies. His opponents have alleged that he channeled government funds and foreign investment toward his own companies. He has also been investigated on suspicion of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from US firms in return for promoting their goods in Nigeria.

Despite these controversies, Abubakar remains a prominent figure in Nigerian politics and business.

Who is Atiku Abubakar’s wife

Atiku Abubakar has been married several times and has four wives. Here are the names of his wives:

• Titi Abubakar
• Rukaiyatu Abubakar
• Fatima Abubakar
• Jennifer Douglas Abubakar

Titi Abubakar is the most well-known of his wives and has been involved in politics and social causes.

Who are Atiku Abubakar’s children?

Atiku Abubakar has a large family, with four wives and over 28 children. He has been married several times and has children from his marriages. 

His wives are Titi Abubakar, Rukaiyatu Abubakar, Fatima Abubakar, and Jennifer Douglas Abubakar. Atiku Abubakar has stated that he married more than one wife because he did not want his children to be as lonely as he was as a child.

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