How Atiku’s Education And Early Career Set Out His Political Journey

According to the BBC, Atiku Abubakar considers himself fortunate to have received a Western-style education at the university, which is vehemently opposed by Boko Haram.

Born into a devout Muslim family in Adamawa, his father, a Fulani tradesman, and herder, was briefly imprisoned for preventing him from attending school. In his autobiography, Atiku compassionately wrote that his father’s actions were a typical response to the fear and anxiety induced by the changing circumstances in Nigeria.

Upon completing his education, he pursued a career in the customs service, where he worked at the Lagos port and airport. Despite rampant corruption within the Customs Department, he made a point to remain untainted. He viewed his role in Customs as a means of generating revenue for the government.

While still employed as a civil servant, Mr. Abubakar started investing in real estate and farmland for commercial purposes. He eventually ventured into the growing market for oil and gas services. In his autobiography chapter titled “Making Money,” he acknowledged his entrepreneurial instincts, which he recognized early in life.

He established connections with Nigeria’s military and political elites during his tenure in customs, two groups that often overlapped in Nigeria’s history. Mr. Abubakar formed a close bond with Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, a former army major whom he considered a political mentor.

During Nigeria’s military rule, the two men engaged in networking with regional leaders, aiming to establish a credible alternative government. In 1989, Atiku resigned from the civil service to fully commit to his political career.

He embarked on his initial bid for the presidency in 1992, representing the faction aligned with Shehu Yar’Adua. Despite placing third in the first round, he voluntarily withdrew from the race, and subsequently, the entire election was nullified by the military regime.

The oppression escalated during the 1990s under the authoritarian rule of Gen. Sani Abacha. Atiku had a short period of exile in London, while his mentor, Shehu Yar’Adua, was imprisoned and later passed away.

In 1997, Atiku returned to Nigeria when Gen. Abacha’s power began to loosen. He assumed the role of vice president after the 1999 elections, which saw the victory of PDP candidate Olusegun Obasanjo as president.

Throughout his two terms in office, he supervised a series of privatizations, receiving accolades from some as a proponent of liberalization while facing criticism from others who accused him of crony capitalism.

In his autobiography, he claimed responsibility for the reformation of the banking sector, the successful auctioning of mobile phone licenses, and an economic boom that enabled Nigeria to significantly reduce its debt burden.

Mr. Abubakar, hailing from the northeastern region of Adamawa State, pledges to restore prosperity if he secures the presidential seat in the upcoming 2023 elections. He is a polygamous man with four wives and a total of 28 children.

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