Throwback Video Reveals Atiku's Father Jailed Over School Resistance
An old video has resurfaced, featuring former Vice President Atiku Abubakar recounting a personal story about his father's imprisonment for opposing his education. The video, reviewed on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, sheds light on Atiku's early life challenges in Jada, Adamawa State.
Atiku Recalls Father's Imprisonment
In the interview, Atiku reminisced about his father, Garba, who was vehemently against Western education. He described how his father smuggled him to Cameroon to avoid school enrollment, only to find similar efforts there. Upon returning, Atiku was hidden with his grandmother until his uncle intervened to enroll him in school.
Atiku stated, "They had to deploy the local authority police to come get me and him too, back to school. And then I was sent back to school, and then he was tried in the local court, and then he was convicted and sentenced to prison. A fine of ten shillings in those days. He didn't have the money, so my grandmother paid, and he went back to the village. And I never saw him until he died."
Atiku's Political Profile and Aspirations
Atiku Abubakar is a prominent Nigerian politician and businessman who served as vice president from 1999 to 2007 under President Olusegun Obasanjo. He has a long history of political ambitions, including unsuccessful bids for governor of Adamawa State in 1990 and 1996, and winning in 1998 before becoming vice president.
He has run for the Nigerian presidency six times, in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023, without success. Despite this, he continues to pursue the presidency, with recent reports indicating his focus on the 2027 elections.
Calls for Atiku to Withdraw from Politics
Recently, Muhammed Basil, a PDP member of the House of Representatives from Adamawa State, urged Atiku to step back from partisan politics and assume the role of an elder statesman. This call comes as Nigerians anticipate the 2027 elections, with Basil representing the Jada/Ganye/Toungo/Mayo-Belwa federal constituency.
The resurfaced video adds a personal dimension to Atiku's public image, highlighting his resilience and the historical context of his education struggles. It underscores the ongoing political discourse surrounding his future in Nigerian politics.
