Atiku Abubakar

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Atiku Abubakar

Vice President of Nigeria
Incumbent
Assumed office May 29, 1999
Preceded by	Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe
Succeeded by	incumbent
President	Olusegun Obasanjo

Born	November 25, 1946 Adamawa State, Nigeria
Political party	People's Democratic Party

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (Turakin Adamawa), GCON (born 25 November 1946) has been Vice-President of Nigeria since 1999. He is originally from Adamawa State and is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).

1 Background
2 Vice Presidency
3 Controversy
4 Presidential run
5 Notes
6 External links

[edit] Background

Abubakar came up the ranks of the ruling People's Democratic Party primarily due to the pivotal role he played in its formation, in addition to his ardent opposition to General Sani Abacha, the late dictator. Atiku's source of wealth has caused some curiosity among Nigerians but that also goes for many other wealthy Nigerians, including his superior - Olusegun Obasanjo. He has said in a new biography yet to be published that he made his money, "through wise investments, hard work and sheer luck of being at the right place at the right time," but many think this statement is just a smokescreen.

He worked as a Customs Officer for twenty years, rising to the rank of Deputy Director before turning to business and politics in 1989. At the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos in 1984, the infamous "53 suitcases" scandal involving late Emir of Gwandu occurred on his watch. He was alleged to have waived all formality to lallow the Emir and his entourage through without even searching one suitcase. Most customs officers at the scene were shocked and appalled. It was also later alleged that many of the suitcases were filled with money. This incident incensed the then Head of State, General Buhari and his Deputy, Brig. Tunde Idiagbon, who ordered an immediate and thorough investigation into the matter, to the chagrin of the Head of State's then ADC, Maj. Mustafa Jokolo, who was, incidentally, the Emir's first son.

The Finance Minister at the time, Onaolapo Soleye and another young but influential Army Officer, Col. Chris Alli, tried in vain to plead Atiku's case before Buhari and Idiagbon. Fate conspired in Abubakar's favour just as his trial was all set to go ahead: General Ibrahim Babangida, in an effort to save his own skin, overthrew the Buhari regime. This worked perfectly well for Atiku Abubakar, who was eventually eased out of office (effectively sacked).

In terms of his personal life and beliefs, Abubakar's first and most senior wife Amina Titi Atiku Abubakar, is believed to be an Ilesha-born Roman Catholic from Osun State in western Nigeria; together they have four children and two grandchildren. He has three other wives: Rukayat (the daughter of the Lamido of Adamawa, an influential monarch); Fatima, a lawyer based in Lagos and Jamila (AKA Jennifer Iwendiora, an Ibo woman from Onitsha, who was a former television newscaster and now a doctoral degree student in the United States). As a result, political associates and critics, tend to agree Atiku is one of the most detribalized northern Muslims aristocrats.

He is perceived by some close friends of his, who are predominantly of northern Christian extraction, as a moderate who would be more fair to Christians, in comparison to other Northern Muslim aspirants; though these days Nigerian Christians hardly give much thought to who's likely to be impartial and unbiased as they themselves have become just as radicalized as the Muslim population after decades of marginalization and playing second fiddle. ^[1] The role played by Atiku in a 'state of emergency' invoked on Plateau State also gives credence to his support for fairness to people of other faiths.

[edit] Vice Presidency

Since becoming Vice President in 1999, he has presided over the National Council on Privatization during which hundreds of loss-making and poorly managed public enterprises were sold off in a manner that has prompted more questions than answers. There have been wild allegations that Atiku engaged in unwholesome practices during the privatization of some of those previously State-owned parastatals. President Obasanjo's son, Gbenga, alluded to this allegation in an interview with an internet-based journal, Elendu Reports, where he insinuated that Atiku "sold Pentascope to himself" ^[2]. These allegations, yet again remain unproven, though many political analysts see him, rather sympathetically, as a man who is more prone to mismanagement than conspiracy.

In 2006, Atiku had in a face-off with his direct superior, President Olusegun Obasanjo, due to the latter's attempts to amend certain provisions of the constitution in order to permit another presidential bid (for the third consecutive time). It is unclear whether Atiku's opposition to President Obasanjo's inordinate ambition was altruistic or selfish. Nonetheless, Atiku had never hidden his interest in the coveted post. The debate and acrimony generate by the failed constitutional amendment has caused a rift in the People's Democratic Party ^[3]. It also appears to have irreparably damaged both men's political and personal relationship; of which, Abubakar, from all indications, is feeling the brunt of. Despite the furor, the Nigerian Supreme Court eventually ruled that any amendments allowing Obasanjo to run for another term were untenable.

[edit] Controversy

In August, 2005 Abubakar surfaced in a report by the BBC Worldservice ^[4], as the intended recipient of a bribe as part of a scheme involving United States Congressman Bill Jefferson to promote Nigeria's adoption of internet technology from the American firm iGate, Inc. So far, according to the FBI, there is no evidence that Abubakar sought or received such a bribe; some skeptics therefore speculate that Abubakar may be the target of a witch-hunt ^[5] Jefferson had collected the money from a business partner to give to Atiku, but the marked money was later found in the Congressman's house wrapped in a foil and neatly tucked away in a freezer.

Abubakar is purportedly his own worst enemy at times: It was reported by many newspapers that he was witnessed by a large crowd ordering his aides to physically assault Akintunde Akinleye, a Daily Independent photojournalist (in full public glare) for having written a disparaging article about him. Several weeks after this nasty incident, Abubakar made a public statement where, instead of apologising, rather justified his action and blamed the journalist for the brawl. Even though, Abubakar offered to replace Mr Akinleye's damaged camera, this particular incident and others have not endeared him to the Nigerian Union of Journalists, who have been up-in-arms against him.

Beyond this, Atiku's political future remains a matter of conjecture. President Obasanjo has asked the Senate to look into the report of an investigation into the Vice President's allegedly fraudulent practices.

On September 18, 2006, Abubakar was indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which alleged that he had embezzeled ₦71,123,250,000 in campaign funds and made various bribes. ^[6]

[edit] Presidential run

On 25 November 2006 Abubakar announced that he would run for President but did not say which party he would represent [1]. There has been a falling-out between Abubakar and the PDP elites, so his political affiliation is ambiguous as of late 2006.

He has also inaugurated the presidential campaign committee spear headed by Prof Iyu, Bugage, Professor Musa Yakubu and many other top politicians in the country. Atiku has been linked with AC as a platform to pursue his presidential bid but time will tell as the nation and Atiku wait for the PDP primaries. ^{[citation needed]}