The universal proven principles of character unequivocally promote charity as a veritable channel of returning sanity to humanity. Little wonder that the well-to-do among global men and women constantly engage in good cause activities, with the sole objective of caring for fellow beings while seeking a nice nest next to God. After all, the Sages say, givers never lack.
Somehow, wealthy folks the world over have seen the core link in the commonality of man – rich or poor. This common cord is called society, where ideally, all have to live for one and one for all; in order for the big wheel of peace, unity, security and development to roll safely on track. Billionaires and famous personalities such as United States Microsoft couple Bill and Melinda Gates, TV matriarch Oprah Winfrey; Africa’s mercurial merchant and industrialist Aliko Dangote; even Nigeria’s ex soccer star Kanu Nwankwo – all flag the banner of being “our brothers and (sisters) keepers.”
Similarly, the noble legacy of philanthropy was identified as one key attribute that ensured a landslide victory, at the presidential polls of 1993, for the President that Nigeria never had, late Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, GCFR.
Meanwhile, it is within this corridor of selfless but silent givers that the name Atiku Abubakar surfaces, albeit unsung. The former Vice President and frontline presidential aspirant in Nigeria remains one of the grand philanthropists in Africa. In fact, he is a consummate humanist whose unpublicized charity works has saved hundreds of lives and cared for needy thousands nationwide. Little wonder, the Waziri of Adamawa holds the enviable record as a politician with the heart of gold and a natural bridge builder. His kind gestures transcend his immediate constituency and cover so many spheres of human endeavors, especially medical and educational facilities.
Unknown to many, Atiku was never born with any spoon at all – be it silver or gold! As a child, he never had a table to dine. He lost his father early and had to face the stark realities of the inclement weather of life with his poor mother, who was practically homeless until Atiku, barely 16, had to eke a living through tedious menial and saved as much as he could, to buy a mud house for his mum! At a point in life, this great headman was a mere stick-wielding herdsman; a shepherd boy like Biblical David who later killed Goliath. Atiku was actually an orphan, one that naturally feels the pains of the downtrodden and pang of hunger in the bellies of street kids. And from the life of a nomad, Atiku learnt bravery, patience, tolerance, team play, equity and justice as vital indexes for leadership.
No wonder the Jada-born public servant-turned-businessman and politician, is ever ready to face life’s challenges squarely. Atiku’s former school mates attest to these ideals. One of them, now a retired public servant resident in Song, Adamawa State, Alhaji Ayuba Musa Mamawa Ganye, fondly recalled in a published interview in 2014 that Atiku “was a brave and caring student leader whom we nicknamed the Bulldozer for his doggedness at fighting for justice and welfare from the school authority.” The senior citizen also confided that the former Vice President still keeps in touch and caters to the needs of his old friends. “I was shocked when he drove the long distance from Yola to Song, to personally check on me while I was recovering from an illness. He joked with my family and ate rice with us. He will make a great leader for Nigeria.”
In the same twin-hill neighborhood, a wheelchair-bound popular politician known as Alhaji Song (named after his serene Song town) told a reporter how the then Turaki Adamawa paid for his expensive spinal cord surgery in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, took care of his entire large family, paid the school fees of his children, procured for him a wheel chair and even sent him on holy pilgrimage to Mecca. For Mr. Song, the sonorous song on his lips is: “Atiku is a life-saver, a truly genuine and honest leader of all persons, able or disabled.”
Dr Chris Nwanoro may be visually impaired but today he holds a doctorate degree thanks to his encounter with Atiku. According to him, it was the light (scholarship) from the man’s large-heartedness that illuminated and gave his life a new lease when he became blind as an undergraduate. Today, he is charting the same path to bringing light and direction to the lives of millions of visually impaired people in the country.
Still in his homestead of Yola, the beautiful oasis of the Sahel, Atiku Abubakar is not just a Kingdom Prime Minister by words of mouth alone. The Waziri Adamawa is a paramount pillar of support and sustenance for education, industry, charity and tradition in the emirate. Aside the State Government, Atiku ranks the highest employer of labour in the North East Zone. Put together, his chains of industries, media corporation, banking outfit, educational institutions and Non Governmental Organisation – all engage thousands of people, directly and indirectly.
So from downtown Jimeta up to the inner city of Yola and its outskirts, the fingers of the man with the Midas Touch could be found on most pies required to feed the masses. Adama Beverages Limited, a company that produces 40, 000 bottled Faro water per hour and millions of soft drinks per annum, is a key haven for both white and blue collar jobs.
There is also a livestock feeds company along Numan Road known as Rico Gardo. Recently too, the business magnate opened the second outlet of a top class fast food chain, Chicken Cottage. The first was commissioned early this year at the famous Jabi Lake Mall, Abuja. These sectors create job opportunity for Nigerian youths.
A few kilometers away from Adama soft drinks centre, is the educational community known as the American University of Nigeria, AUN, with its ancillary junior feeder schools. It is really hard to imagine the staff strength of these citadels of learning – from primary, secondary to university level. In short, unlike most developmental private universities in Nigeria, the AUN founded over a decade ago by Atiku Abubakar, runs at no profit to the former Vice President, a stickler to excellent academic performance and entrepreneurial prowess.
The humanist in Atiku also makes him to invest more in qualitative and digitally-compliant education system, rather than rake money at the expense of the youth who are global future leaders. Currently, AUN boasts of a multi-million dollar e-library, qualified lecturers from over 40 countries worldwide, student exchange programme with the United States, practical and pragmatic entrepreneurship training, and even scholarships for indigent brilliant students. Among the latter were the first batch of 21 escaped Chibok Girls who are on the “Founder’s Scholarship.”
Besides feeding and catering to the basic needs of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons, caused by the ruinous Boko Haram’s carnage and pillage of the North East, Atiku also took it upon himself, four years ago, to take abandoned children off the streets, to feed and educate at no cost. The programme known as FEED AND READ, an initiative supported by the Irish Government, recently produced 300 pupils set to go to college. Another plus for the unique initiative is that it allows children of the rich already in secondary school to adopt train and relate with real-life streets kids, without discrimination. In fact, this collaboration has engendered love and compassion in both the rich and poor youngsters. Indeed, Atiku is a thorough-bred mentor to youths, among whom are his many creative and unassuming children.
Talking empowerment, Atiku is head and shoulder above his political peers. His Micro Finance outlet offers interest-free credit line and revolving loans to hundreds of petty traders and needy women in business in the North East. The result has been very rewarding – as the beneficiaries rarely defaulted. Hence, many of the loan beneficiaries have been able to support their families, raise their children and contribute positively towards societal growth.
In the sphere of information dissemination and entertainment in the NE zone, Atiku’s GOTEL Radio and Television dominate the air waves. The media house, aside being newsy and recreational, is also an employer of labour.
In the realm of social amenities and medicare, Atiku has done fairly well. He has spent his personal resources to rehabilitate and furnish schools and hospitals in the North East. He even established a Fund for the poor at the Federal Medical Centre in Yola.
He owns several business concerns from Rivers in the Niger Delta to the nation’s capital among other areas, providing specilaised services and employment to cross section of Nigerians
On the plain of philanthropy, Atiku Abubakar, for want of word, is the proverbial “Good Samaritan”. The fact that he deliberately looks away from having an official Atiku Foundation, says a lot about this silent giver. Not only does he wipe tears from the eyes of millions, many of whom he never knows personally, but takes delight in helping others because as he’s wont to say stoically: “Allah gave me the means so I don’t need a thank you or have to advertise that which God made possible.”
On the political turf, Atiku is a humble believer in the salient principle of politics without bitterness, as professed by the late Ibrahim Waziri. It is this reason that makes Atiku, even though a defender of democracy, yet he abhors open confrontation with anyone. And he doesn’t seek vengeance on those who cheat or wrong him knowingly.
Atiku is a political maestro of the Tafida Yar’Adua’s breed. This dynamic strategist and value addition to any party he belongs, is a crowd-puller and mentor to younger generations. After his tutelage under the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, the progenitor of Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, Atiku soon cut his leadership teeth which led him to becoming one of the top three candidates in the presidential primaries that produced eventual winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 elections, MKO Abiola, also of blessed memory. History has it that unselfish Atiku stepped down for Abiola to win the SDP primary in Jos Plateau State. And wooed his bosses to enhance and advance Abiola’s presidential dream.
Even after the annulment and in the ensuing fierce battle to wrestle power from the military and return Nigeria to civil rule; Atiku, in concert with other progressives, stood like the rock of Gibraltar to defend democracy, even at great risk. His house in Kaduna was raided by assassins, his son terribly harassed and six of his personal guards were murdered in cold blood by the sponsored hatchet men.
Atiku is also true adherent to the tenets of due process and constitutionalism. He approached the courts including the Supreme Court 14 times and won landmark cases that have nourished and polished our nascent democracy. But for Atiku’s brave efforts, a president or sitting governor would have been able to sack his vice or deputy as the case may be, not minding that both presidential and gubernatorial joint tickets exist till tenure lapses.
With the benefit of hindsight, it is on record that at the formation of the PDP in 1998, Atiku it was, who purchased and donated the Wadata House, which till date hosts the party as its national headquarters. But Atiku is most times taciturn. He hates self adulation or adoration. Hardly would he be caught talking about his generosity or philanthropic accomplishments..
History will etch his name in gold as an urbane and humane, zero-to-hero grand philanthropist and an altruistic consummate humanist, whose enduring desire to make the world better than he met it and herald a golden era to generations yet unborn.
Alaba Yusuf, journalist and public analyst, wrote from Lagos
