People

Atiku Abubakar Biography

Atiku Abubakar Basic Information

Stage Name: Atiku
Real Name: Atiku Abubakar
Occupation: Politician, Businessman
Date Of Birth/Age:  25 November 1946 (76 years)
Place of Birth: Jada, Adamawa, Nigeria
Gender: Male
Nationality: Nigerian
Marital Status: Married
Education: Ahmadu Bello University Institute of Administration
Height: 6’2 Feet
Net Worth: $1.8 billion

Atiku Abubakar Biography

Atiku Abubakar is a Nigerian politician, former governor-elect of Adamawa state and current presidential flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic party.

His is not your Eton to Cambridge story, though. The politician was born into poverty but plodded his way into the important political figure that he is today.

He had no siblings growing up, which would influence his idea of family and bonding later in life. His father was no fan of the western educational system, so he tried to keep young Atiku out of it.

His father paid dearly for that as he was locked up and had to be bailed for making his son miss mandatory schooling. After finished from secondary school and had a stint at the Nigeria Police College in Kaduna.

He would get a government scholarship that enabled him to obtain a law Diploma from the Ahmadu Bello University Institute of Administration. He delved into the Nigerian Customs Service soon after, rising through the ranks until he retired 20 years later.

The lure of politics was way too much to ignore. He delved into politics and has occupied several political offices since then, most importantly that of vice president of Nigeria.

Lifestyle

Atiku Abubakar lives large and mostly on his own terms. He has seen privation but is now one of the richest Nigerian politicians out there. If he isn’t hopping from private jets, he is one rolling through town in expensive rides.

Atiku Abubakar Biography, Yours Truly, People, March 29, 2024

-Net Worth

Atiku Abubakar wouldn’t dwell much on his net worth, given the controversies that surround his source of wealth. At any rate, he is said to have a net worth of $1.8 billion.

-Businesses

Atiku has several businesses, some of which the public is unaware of. So far, the former vice president has only listed four businesses, the details of which are given in another section of this article

-House

Atiku has several houses across Nigeria and lives in them when he is around. He is known to have houses in Abuja, Adamawa, Lagos and Dubai, among others.

Atiku Abubakar Biography, Yours Truly, People, March 29, 2024Atiku Abubakar Biography, Yours Truly, People, March 29, 2024

-Cars

Atiku Abubakar is known to have several cars, including a Mercedes S550, Range Rover, Lexus, and Toyota Landcruiser.

Family

Atiku has a large family comprising four wives and 28 children. He is rarely seen with his children but is said to share a deep bond with them nonetheless. About his family, during an interview, he had the following to say:

“I wanted to expand the Abubakar family. I felt extremely lonely as a child. I had no brother and no sister. I did not want my children to be as lonely as I was. This is why I married more than one wife. My wives are my brothers, my sisters, my friends and my advisers and they complement one another.”

-Children

Atiku Abubakar as 28 children. Explaining why he had so many kids, he had noted that he had neither brother nor sister as a kid and was extremely lonely growing up. So he decided to expand his own family so his kids wouldn’t be as lonely as he was.

Atiku Abubakar Biography, Yours Truly, People, March 29, 2024

-Wives

The former customs officer follows the Islamic injunction that a man might have up to four wives. Princess Ruqayat, Fatima Abubakar, Titi Abubakar, and Jennifer (later Jamila) Atiku Abubakar are or were the wives of the former vice president.

Atiku Abubakar Biography, Yours Truly, People, March 29, 2024Atiku Abubakar Biography, Yours Truly, People, March 29, 2024

Tribe

Atiku is a Fulani man from northern Nigeria.

Political Career

Atiku Abubakar is one of the oldies in Nigerian politics and that’s in the sense that he has been in politics for decades. Many often trace his political career to his days as a protege of Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. However, before that time, he had worked with Bamanga Tukur’s governorship campaign.

Thereafter, he met Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, the former second-in-command of the military government between 1976 and 1979, who took him in as his protege and allowed him to attend his political meetings.

Soon enough, he became the national vice-chairman of the People Front of Nigeria, an organization founded by Yar’Adua during the transitional phase of the government of Ibrahim Babangida. Other members of the group include Bola Tinubu, Bakin Zuwo and Babalola Borishade.

In 1989, he was picked to represent his constituency under the organization founded by Yar’Adua. But because Babangida had founded two parties (the Social Democratic Party, SDP, and the National Republican Convention, NLC) and limited political participation to bost parties, Atiku had to go with the SDP.

Atiku announced his gubernatorial ambition (for Gongola state) in 1990, but the state was divided into Adamawa and Taraba soon after, and Atiku himself was ultimately disqualified.

Atiku Abubakar Biography, Yours Truly, People, March 29, 2024

He contested the Adamawa governorship election in 1998 and had an easy win. However, before his swearing-in, he was picked as a vice presidential candidate to Olusegun Obasanjo. Both won the election together and went on to serve two terms, though their relationship wasn’t particularly rosy during their second term.

Atiku wanted to succeed Obasanjo as president, but Obasanjo was not predisposed to support his presidency given their acrimonious relationship in the later part of Obasanjo’s presidency. The former head of state supported Katsina governor, Yar’Adua, brother of Atiku’s former mentor, instead.

Atiku switch to the All Progressives Congress when he couldn’t wrestle the PDP ticket from Jonathan, who had succeeded Yar’Adua who died in office. He supported Buhari, who ended up displacing Jonathan from power. Atiku ran back to the PDP to try to wrestle power from Buhari, who was seeking reelection. He failed. He is still contesting.

Atiku Abubakar Biography, Yours Truly, People, March 29, 2024

Who are the wives of Atiku Abubakar?

The names of the women who are or were once married to the former vice president are Princess Ruqayat, Fatima Abubakar, Amina Titi Abubakar, and Jennifer (later Jamila) Atiku Abubakar.

What are the achievements of Atiku Abubakar?

Atiku Abubakar is never one to shy away from blowing his own trumpet. Verbatim: “In my home state of Adamawa for example, I’ve created over 50,000 direct jobs and 250,000 indirect ones. We are the largest private employers of labour in the state only second to the state government. It’s not a lot, but it does help reduce unemployment.” He also points to banking consolidation and Nigeria’s GSM revolution as part of his achievements.

How can I get in contact with Atiku Abubakar?

Atiku is a public figure, all right. But that in no way means he is actually “public” – not someone you can easily run into and get his contact details. Except one is truly important, to contact him, one would have to go through his aides. Since he is active on social media, especially Twitter. He might be reached on that platform by a mention. There is no assurance he would respond, of course.

Did Atiku Abubakar decamp to APC?

Yes. When he couldn’t get the PDP presidential ticket during the Jonathan presidency, he switched to the All Progressives Congress, where he backed the candidature of Muhammadu Buhari, who became Nigeria’s president in 2015. He switched loyalty back to PDP with the hope of getting the party’s presidential ticket. He beat Wike and other candidates to the bat.

Did Atiku Abubakar collapse?

He allegedly collapsed. But since the collapse wasn’t confirmed by an authoritative news source, it is best treated as mere hearsay.

How many wives did Atiku Abubakar have?

He had four wives at some point. But he isn’t with all of them at this point. The marital details are still fuzzy.

How many companies does Atiku Abubakar have?

He has once been accused of setting up several companies from stolen public funds, but he insisted he has four companies and all were established before he delved into politics fulltime.

When did Atiku Abubakar retire from custom?

He retired in 1989 after two decades of service in the Nigerian Customs Service.

Which state did Atiku Abubakar come from?

The former vice president is from Adamawa state.

Who did Atiku Abubakar pick as vice president?

He picked Peter Obi as vice president because Obi had redemptive qualities that would sell his presidential ticket to the electorate.

What did Atiku Abubakar study?

He earned a law diploma from the Ahmadu Bello University Institute of Administration.

Where does Atiku Abubakar live?

The Turaki Adamawa has not one but several houses strewn across Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates. So he lives in one of them when he is around. He lived in Dubai for a while before coming back to Nigeria to contest the presidential election.

Atiku Abubakar ethnicity?

Atiku Abubakar is of the Fulani ethnic group.

How many companies Does Atiku Abubakar have in Nigeria?

It’s unclear how many companies Atiku Abubakar has in Nigeria, as not everything is publicized. However, he is known to own  Integrated Logistics Services Nigerian Limited (Intels), Prodeco, Atiku Abubakar farms, and ABTI Schools – based on his listing.
Atiku Abubakar Biography, Yours Truly, People, March 29, 2024

Atiku Abubakar and Tinubu who is richer?

In terms of wealth, Atiku doesn’t come close. Tinubu is waaaaaaaaaaay richer, but the sources of his wealth have a fat and bloody question mark to it. An inextricable question mark.

How much is Atiku Abubakar net worth?

Atiku Abubakar’s net worth is a matter of public speculation, with several sources putting it at $1.8 billion. Of course, the man himself wouldn’t be dragged into discussions of his wealth as many Nigerians see it as nothing more than the results of corrupt enrichment.

Is Atiku Abubakar from Cameroon?

Atiku Abubakar is a Nigerian politician. But his father is said to be from Cameroon, which has given rise, understandably, to the narrative that he is from Cameroon.

Is Atiku Abubakar Hausa?

Not exactly. He is actually Fulani. The Hausa and the Fumali and markedly different groups, with the latter seemingly more powerful than the former.

Is Atiku Abubakar a military man?

The Customs service is part of the military, and since he was a former customs officer, he may as well be called a former military man

Is Atiku Abubakar a former governor?

Yes and no. Yes, because he contested as governor of Adamawa state under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and won. And no, because before his swearing-in, he accepted to be the vice president of Olusegun Obasanjo. They won the election together and served two terms.

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