Atiku Abubakar

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Atiku Abubakar

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

Born	November 25, 1946 Adamawa State, Nigeria
Political party	Action Congress

Seal of the Vice-President of Nigeria

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (Turakin Adamawa), GCON (born 25 November 1946) is the Vice-President of Nigeria.^[1] He is a native of Adamawa State and was a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) until being expelled in 2006 when he switched affiliation to the Action Congress party.

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

[edit] Background

Mr Abubakar came up the ranks of the ruling PDP primarily, due to the pivotal role he played in its formation. He was also an ardent opponent of 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 boss - 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. While serving as a Customs officer in charge at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos in 1984, the infamous "53 suitcases" scandal belonging to the late Emir of Gwandu happened. 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 chargrin 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 was later to conspire 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). A counter-view is however posited by Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, who records, "Not only did Buhari dispatch his aide-de-camp, Jokolo...to facilitate the entry of those cases, he ordered the redeployment...of the Customs Officer (Atiku) who stood firmly against the entry of the contravening baggage" (The Guardian, Feb. 6, 2007, p2) ,

[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 cock-ups than conspiracy.

Abubakar's first and most senior wife Amina Titi Atiku Abubakar, is believed to be an Ilesha-born Roman Catholic, hailing originally from the Togolese Republic; 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 fairer 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 unbaised as they themselves have become just as radicalized as the Muslim population after decades of marginalization and playing second fiddle.^[3] 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.

In 2006, Atiku had in a face-off with his direct superior, President Olusegun Obasanjo, due to the latter's eventual failed attempts to amend certain provisions of the constitution in order to take another shot at the presidency (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.^[4] It also appears to have irreparably damaged both men's political and personal relationship, of which, Mr Abubakar, from all indications, is feeling the brunt of it. 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,^[5] 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 Mr Abubakar sought nor received bribe; which makes some skeptics think that Atiku may be a target of witch-hunt^[6] 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.

Atiku is sometimes his own worst enemy: 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, Atiku made a public statement where, instead of apologising, rather justified his action and blamed the journalist for the brawl. Even though, Mr 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 alleged 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.^[7]

[edit] Presidential run

On 25 November 2006 Abubakar announced that he would run for President but did not announce immediately which party he would represent though he inaugurated a presidential campaign committee.

On Wednesday, 20th December 2006, he formally, joined the Action Congress (AC) as their official presidential candidate. [1].

On the 15th of March 2007, The Independent National Electoral Commision (INEC) released the final list of 24 aspirants for the April 21st presidential elections. Atiku's name was conspicuosly missing even though he is seen by many as the only 'credible' opposition candidate to the powerful ruling PDP party in the April 2007 elections.

In a statement released by INEC, it states that Atiku's name was missing because he is on a list of officials indicted for corruption by a panel set up by the ruling government. The creation of this list is seen by many as a tool to weed out opponents of the PDP who may have a strong showing in the forthcoming polls. This school of thought is supported because officials like Andy Uba, a former presidential adviser to Obasanjo is being allowed to contest in the polls despite a history of well publisised fraudulent activities, i.e fake educational certificates and money laundering charges in the USA. INEC disqualified Atiku even though there is a court judgement which states that INEC doesn't have the power to disqualify candidates. INEC appealed this court decision and this move has cast doubts on the neutrality of INEC as an umpire in the forthcoming elections.

Atiku headed to the courts on the 16th of March to get his disqualification overturned despite a statement from the INEC chairman which says it will be impossible for him to contest even if he gets a judgement in his favour as it will be logistically impossible to reprint ballot papers and distribute them round the country before the April polls.

According to reports on the 26th of March on a Nigerian newspaper run website, Professor Iwu, the chairman of INEC may be prepared to adhere to a court ruling in the case of Atiku but with the caveat that it has to be a ruling by the supreme court. His words “Yes, he (Atiku) will run if the Supreme Court says so. This is where the logistics issue actually comes in. We must have our own fallback preparation. I am not the type that makes plan without having plan A, B, and C. If the Supreme Court decides that, we will obey the Supreme Court.” [2]

[edit] Trivia

Atiku was mentioned as part of a Saturday Night Live skit mocking the 2000 US Presidential debate between Al Gore and George W Bush. Bush (played by Will Ferrell), attempts to prove his competence in foreign affairs, as he discusses the Nigerian Government: "I've been very impressed with the new leadership over there, President Olusegun Obasanjo, Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, his special assistant, Mr. Tunde Olusunle, even the Director General of Public Enterprise Mr. Malam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai. They're all top notch." [3][4].