BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money - Politics - Nairaland
Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money (1717 Views)
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| BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by OKDnigeria: 8:49pm On Feb 07, 2019 |
The man aiming to wrest the Nigerian presidency from Muhammadu Buhari has built a career circling the summits of public life. Atiku Abubakar has been a top civil servant, a vice-president, and a prominent businessman and philanthropist, making his fortune in the oil sector and giving some of it away to charity. The highest office in the land has, however, eluded him. On three occasions, he has tried for the presidency and fallen short. On 16 February, the 72-year-old tries again, offering his credentials as a seasoned political operator and serial entrepreneur as the remedy for Nigeria's ills. However, his critics point to accusations of financial impropriety against him which they say make him unsuitable for top office in a country where corruption is a huge challenge. He denies any wrongdoing and says the charges are politically motivated. If elected, Mr Abubakar will be confronted by soaring unemployment, chronic poverty, a legislature gridlocked by regional rivalries, and a sluggish economy heavily dependent on fluctuating oil revenues. His campaign is exploiting the contrast between his image and that of an incumbent who has become a target for much of the frustration over the economy. Mr Buhari's critics say his personality - austere, aloof and inflexible - has proven ill-suited to the demands of governing Nigeria, even if it helped him win the last election, lending credibility to his pledge to fight corruption. Mr Abubakar, by contrast, is an affable, enterprising figure, moving adroitly between the worlds of commerce and politics - qualities that, his supporters say, will help him unite the country and revive the economy. Both candidates are from the mainly Muslim north of the country, and have tried to reach beyond their power base by choosing running mates from the mostly Christian south. According to Cheta Nwanze, head of research at Lagos-based risk advisory SBM Intelligence, Mr Abubakar's campaign will hope to attract some of the people who voted for Mr Buhari in the last election - particularly "the educated youth that live in cities and have seen their incomes fall in the last few years". Political insider Mr Abubakar is the candidate for the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the dominant force in Nigerian politics for the last two decades. He was with the PDP when it was formed at the end of a military dictatorship, and has served as vice-president in two of its administrations. However, he has had a tempestuous relationship with the party he helped create, twice having left it for opposition groups. His first exit, in 2006, coincided with an investigation into his record as vice-president, when he was accused of having diverted $125m (£95m) worth of public funds towards his business interests. Similar charges appeared in a 2010 US Senate report, which accused Mr Abubakar of having transferred $40m (£30.55m) of "suspect funds" to the US, using his American wife's bank account. The charges have never been tried in court, and Mr Abubakar has rejected the allegations of corruption as politically motivated. In January 2019, he visited Washington DC, ending speculation that he was avoiding travel to the US because he might face arrest there. According to Olly Owen, a lecturer in African studies at Oxford University, Mr Abubakar is the ultimate political insider. "Back in the 1990s, when they were getting rid of military rule, he was in at the ground floor," he says. "He is a long-term power-broker, switching allegiances and dictating the nature of elite alliances." Both candidates in the election are over 70, but Mr Abubakar's relative youth - contrasted with Mr Buhari's rumoured ill-health - is viewed as an asset in a country where most of the electorate is under 40. Mr Owen says the two men appeal to two distinct tendencies among Nigerian voters - a yearning for clean government and a desire for economic opportunity. "People are sick of corruption," he says, but on the other hand they are also "very entrepreneurial". Tycoon and veteran power-broker Born in 1946 in northern state of Adamawa Co-owner of multinational oil services company that started life in a Lagos shipping container Oversaw privatisations during two terms as vice-president Fought against corruption charges, describing them as politically motivated Founded American University which gave scholarships to some of the "Chibok girls" who survived Boko Haram kidnapping His father, a devout Muslim, was briefly jailed for trying to stop him from attending a Western-style school An Arsenal football supporter, he has four wives and 28 children Mr Abubakar's reputation in business is linked to the spectacular rise of Intels, the oilfield logistics firm that he co-founded in 1982. From its original office in a shipping container, the company has grown into a multi-national, multi-billion naira operation, employing more than 10,000 people. 'Making money' He has diverted part of his wealth to charitable causes, most notably establishing the prestigious American University in Adamawa state, northern Nigeria. The university recently offered scholarships to some of the "Chibok girls" - survivors of a high-profile kidnapping by Islamist Boko Haram militants. Mr Abubakar regards himself as a lucky beneficiary of the Western-style education offered at the university and fiercely opposed by Boko Haram. He was born in Adamawa to a devout Muslim family, and his father, a Fulani tradesman and herder, was briefly jailed for preventing him from attending school. "Father was responding typically with fear and anxiety to the onslaught of change in Nigeria," Mr Abubakar writes sympathetically in his autobiography. After finishing his studies, he joined the customs service, serving at Lagos port and airport. "Corruption was rife in Customs but I was not part of it," he writes. "I saw Customs… as a way of making money for the government." While still a civil servant, Mr Abubakar began buying property and farmland for commercial purposes, eventually moving into the emerging market for oil and gas services. "I recognised very early in life that I have a good nose for business," he writes in a chapter of his autobiography entitled, Making Money. His career in customs brought him into contact with the military and political elite, two categories that have been interchangeable for much of Nigeria's recent history. Mr Abubakar grew close to the former army major, Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, regarding him as a political mentor. Against a backdrop of coups and crackdowns, the two men began networking with other regional leaders, hoping to form a credible government-in-waiting. Privatisation drive In 1989, Mr Abubakar quit the civil service to dedicate himself to politics. He made his first presidential run in 1991, as a candidate for the faction that had gathered around Shehu Yar'Adua. He would step down after coming third in the first round, and the election itself was later cancelled by the military government. More about Nigeria's 2019 vote The repression intensified in the 1990s under the dictatorship of Gen Sani Abacha. Mr Abubakar was briefly exiled in London, while his mentor, Shehu Yar'Adua, was sent to prison and would eventually die there. Mr Abubakar returned to Nigeria in 1997 as Gen Abacha relaxed his grip on power. He became vice-president after the elections in 1999 installed the PDP candidate, Olusegun Obasanjo, in the presidency. During two terms in office, he oversaw a series of privatisations, earning praise as a liberaliser in some quarters, and criticism elsewhere as a crony capitalist. In his autobiography, he takes credit for reforms of the banking sector, the auction of mobile phone licenses, as well as for an economic boom that enabled Nigeria to pay off much of its debt. Mr Abubakar says he will bring back the good times if elected president in 2019. However, his ability to keep that promise will be subject to powerful forces outside his control. "It's hard to predict what he could achieve," says the BBC's Nigeria editor, Aliyu Tanko, "with an economy that depends so heavily on the price of oil." Mr Abubakar has four wives and 28 children. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47046599 2 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Abfinest007(m): 8:58pm On Feb 07, 2019 |
with these achievement I hope I have been able to convince u that Ali is a boy n simbi is a girl n atiku need to be given a chance 7 Likes |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by royallord1(m): 9:03pm On Feb 07, 2019 |
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| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Nobody: 9:17pm On Feb 07, 2019 |
It's Western interest vs Chinese interest in the upcoming election and Nigerians will be the biggest fools to sell their country to the ones that once and still tries to enslave them. if you know, you know! 1 Like |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Asshurbanipal: 9:27pm On Feb 07, 2019 |
Unlike the man who rear gay cows |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Asshurbanipal: 9:28pm On Feb 07, 2019 |
jayfolarin:I remember GEJ supporters saying the same thing in 2015 3 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by michlins(m): 9:33pm On Feb 07, 2019 |
I will vote Atiku but I know he would loose this election. Nnamdi Kanu factor is a problem in South East |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Nobody: 9:41pm On Feb 07, 2019 |
Asshurbanipal: Well, if you do follow worldnews, you'd realise the ongoing war between China and America. America warning all her alies not to employ Huawei 5G technology despite Huawei being the frontrunner of this technology for example is a result of that. The daughter of Huawei founder been arrested in Canada to be extradited to the US is another example of an ongoing economic war that is vastly undereported. John Bolton, National security advisor in america, literally addressed the world of the urgent need for America to battle the Chinese for influence in Africa. Its why the election in Nigeria, africa's largest economy is of huge interest to America and her allies. Make no mistake about it, The coming election in Nigeria is a fight between China and America with Buhari representing Chinese interest and Atiku, America's. And If recent history has taught anything, it's that America only look out for their companies and their interests in developing countries. Exploiting resources in this countries at the detriment of the locals. Exxon Mobil, shell and a host others quickly come to mind. Basic infrastructures are left to decay while loans with stringent conditions are granted by the IMF and world bank. This loans were never utilised for the common good of the people. Then came the Chinese with infrastructural loans without back breaking conditions whilst also ensuring that said infrastructures are constructed by appointing people to monitor the development. While the Chinese can not be said to be perfect (No one is) their loans and approach to African development projects as a whole is miles ahead of the previous norm. If atiku wins (God forbid evil!) He will sell NNPC for sure and it won't be to people that will handle the NNPC to the benefit of nigerians. Think about your future and that of the coming generation and don't vote for atiku! It's political suicide. 4 Likes |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Asshurbanipal: 9:59pm On Feb 07, 2019 |
jayfolarin:And I am telling you that GEJ suppoters said exactly same thing in 2015 3 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by mbaboy(m): 10:13pm On Feb 07, 2019 |
BBC is Atikulated. El Rufai effect 1 Like |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Nobody: 11:05pm On Feb 07, 2019 |
Asshurbanipal: No, it was not the same! NEVER! Show me an article, a comment, anything from 2015 that detailed what I just wrote |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Omololu001: 11:14pm On Feb 07, 2019 |
jayfolarin:please show me where he said this. |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Omololu001: 11:18pm On Feb 07, 2019 |
jayfolarin:I agree with this. 1 Like |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Nobody: 12:36am On Feb 08, 2019 |
Omololu001:I just embedded a link to the full speech. John Bolton starts at the 06:52 mark. https://www.c-span.org/video/?455865-1/john-bolton-unveils-trump-administrations-africa-strategy |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Foolishbuhari: 3:59am On Feb 08, 2019 |
jayfolarin: Shut up! If only you knew the Chinese and how they think these guys are pure capitalists! You think they give you free money to embezzle and they don't have their own interests abi? Kids everywhere Then suddenly the same US which openly supported and helped buhari into aso rock is now the enemy abi? Please spare us the rubbish rhetorics. Buhari is pure bad market...imagine a man who even had the guts to go to India whom we just recently overtook as world poverty capital for loan fool! 10 Likes 3 Shares |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Racoon(m): 4:32am On Feb 08, 2019 |
The man aiming to wrest the Nigerian presidency from Muhammadu Buhari has built a career circling the summits of public life.Atiku Abubakar has been a top civil servant, a vice-president, and a prominent businessman and philanthropist, making his fortune in the oil sector and giving some of it away to charity.Obidiently atikulated with this great and noble vision. 1 Like
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| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Nobody: 5:40am On Feb 08, 2019 |
God has been showing us numerous signs in different measures and capacities against the APC in 2019. Nigeria.... once bitten, twice shy. 1 Like |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Nobody: 5:45am On Feb 08, 2019 |
jayfolarin: What are you even talking about comparing the benevolent nature of the americans to the chinese whom have wrecked African nations with huge debts borrowings while even imposing their currency on indebted nations. - USA would borrow you what can be forgiven... - The chinese would stop at nothing to take your country away and possibly re-colonize you. You rightly mentioned exxon mobile & chevron, yes they make money but are also a great energy on extraction and sale of Nigerian crude.. You mentioned IMF whom have written off tonnes of bad debt for Nigeria.. WHAT HAS THE CHINESE DONE FOR US IN TERMS OF: Employment? Enhancing our source of income? Enhancing our democracy? |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Omololu001: 8:18am On Feb 08, 2019 |
jayfolarin:thanks bro |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by jlinkd78(m): 8:38am On Feb 08, 2019 |
Contextually from this apt writeup one can say that d world is already seeing Atiku as d President in-waiting. Reasons why some people cos of their parochial interests will still be marketing Buhari notwithstanding this impressive resume of Atiku still beats my imagination. Atiku might not be d best this country has but definitely miles better than what we have at d moment 2 Likes |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Nobody: 9:14am On Feb 08, 2019 |
Esseite: I won't even dignify this nonsense with an answer! Ofcourse there will always be brainwashed people like you who worship and lick the boots of their oppressors and those who literally enslaved them! Get educated! |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Nobody: 10:32am On Feb 08, 2019 |
jayfolarin: You are empty and dont know jack ..... your stupid analysis does not hold water.. Back up your comment or just shout ipob and run along. |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by GoldChest(m): 10:36am On Feb 08, 2019 |
The Bristish too are fully Atikulated Donald trump first rejected Buhari Now the British The EU too are all up for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar This is good for our democracy . Buhari, your days of misrule are over . |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Nobody: 10:38am On Feb 08, 2019 |
Esseite: I could tell you are the kind of kid that writes this way. Not necessarily writing to get education but to throw insult around. I am not wasting valuable time, strength and knowledge on you. Get an education |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Jman06(m): 10:44am On Feb 08, 2019 |
Nigerians! Let us vote this great man to reposition our economy for good! A combination of Atiku Abubarka and Peter Obi is like firing with a double silencer! It is like killing many birds with just two stones! Let's not miss this opportunity!!! |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Nobody: 11:50am On Feb 08, 2019 |
jayfolarin: You wrote all this but could not coin a rebuttal... it goes to show you dont have any.. You could tell someone he does not follow international news, you could say (God forbid) on an atiku option but you are here regarding a request to prove your claims as insult.. You dont know jack.. |
| Re: BBC: Atiku Abubakar - The Nigerian Operator Who Knows How To Make Money by Nobody: 1:07pm On Feb 08, 2019 |
Esseite: I don't know jack, I agree! You need a bit of education? Read my first submission. Want more? You'll have to pay for a class! Now, Go and educate yourself properly and we might be able to have a discussion |
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