On the 25th of November, 1946, a child was born in Jada, then a small town in what is now Adamawa State, and that child grew up to be me, Atiku. Though born into a humble background, I have been fortunate, and life had been a blessing to me. As an orphan without a father or siblings, and a very poor mother, I grew up alone, but have been blessed by divine providence. I was given an education, against the stern wishes of my father, and that education has prospered my life.
Today is my birthday, and I turn 67, blessed with a loving family, a house full of children and an army of grandchildren. This year’s birthday, I believe is very significant, because I’m not only celebrating with my family and friends, but with tens of thousands of friends I’ve made over the past couple of months on social media. We have talked, shared and disagreed about many issues affecting our country, but in all this time, you, my friends, have shown me that there is hope yet in this generation of Nigerians for the future of Nigeria. You have shown that despite all the troubles that this country has gone through, the spirit of our young people endures, and they are fighting to take the future of this country to greater heights.
Over these past months interacting with this great generation of young Nigerians, one thing has shone though: you have a dream to push Nigeria to her full potential, and I say you have the right to dream for that better future for Nigeria. It is possible. We don’t often hear about the Nigerian dream, but I am evidence of the Nigerian Dream. I am evidence that a poor child can rise from very obscure beginnings to prosper in a rewarding career, retire to build an immensely prosperous business, and go on to occupy one of the highest offices in his country. That is my story.
In the last couple of months, many of you have asked me to share my life’s story, and I could not think of a better day to do this. A couple of years ago, one of my aides, Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba, did a great piece of work on my early life, and published it as a book titled “Atiku: The Story of Atiku Abubakar”. Apart from the scores of interviews he did with me, he also interviewed my friends, family, acquaintances, and sometimes the people he considered my adversaries. This is the book where many of the stories of my life are chronicled, all the way to my early years as Vice President of Nigeria.
This year, after many requests on social media, I decided to revisit many of those interviews with Ojo, and a brief summary of my life has been put together in a brief book titled “My Life”. As a tribute to this connected generation, this book will only be published online and electronically.
- For the Apple people, like most of my children, you can get the book here for free: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/my-life/id720922504?ls=1
- I could not publish for free download on the Kindle store, so the Kindle version is available at about $2, for which all proceeds will be donated to charity. Please download the Kindle version here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FNXSEF2
- You can also download a PDF version of the book here: https://atiku.org/aa/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Atiku-MyLife1.pdf
My staff were kind enough to convert Atiku: The Story of Atiku Abubakar book into similar electronic formats, which can be downloaded below:
- Apple iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/my-life/id720922504?ls=1
- Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FPNLAL0
- PDF: https://www.dropbox.com/s/r17gq11qxzoxpx0/Atiku%20-%20The%20Story%20Of%20Atiku%20Abubakar.pdf
There still remains more stories in my later life that I intend to tell in a future book, but I do hope you enjoy this story of My Life. Thank you so much for your birthday wishes today.
Wish u many many years Ahead our graet nigerian leader
Happy birthday sir
Atiku Abubakar God bless your father Amin..
I wish the elder statesman many years ahead and good health, Happy Birthday TURAKI NIGERIA!!!! cheers to our OGA @ THE TOP….lol
We @ YLM are proud of you may GOD bless this day forever.
Happy birthday sir, more blessings upon u and all ur pursuit in life
May Allahu (swt} guide and protect you and your family Amin
HAPPYBIRTHDAY………………………
OUR GREAT LEADER WHO INSPIRED AND REKINDLED OUR HOPE OF BETTER NIGERIA.MAY ALLAH CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN YOUR HEALTH AND GRANT YOU MANY MORE PROSPEROUS YEARS IN LIFE.THOUGH I NEVER MET YOU BUT I HAVE BEEN KEENLY FOLLOWING YOUR POLITICAL ACTIVITIES,POSITION ON NIGERIA ISSUES.WHAT REALLY CAPTURE MY MIND ARE YOUR WONDERFUL ABILITY TO CULTIVATE LOYAL FOLLOWERS AND MANAGE DISLOYAL ONE WITH SHOWING TOO MUCH EMOTIONAL.I EQUALLY CHERISH BRAVERY AND COURAGE. DO NOT RELENT IN YOUR GENUINE CONCERN FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGES,CREATE MORE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.IF WE ARE ABLE TO BANISH POVERTY , INDISCIPLINE AND CORRUPTION IN OUR DEAR COUNTRY, I BELIEVE WITHIN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME NIGERIA WILL BECOME A GREAT COUNTRY.WE HAVE ALL IT TAKES TO DEVELOP BUT WE ARE IN A DIRE NEED OF A CROP OF LEADERS WHO CAN HARNESS OUR COLLECTIVE ENDOWMENTS AND EFFORTS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY OUR DEAR TURAKI
Maigirma Turaki, Allah Ya Karama lafiya da juriya. Allah Yaci GABA da Baka Nasara. Inna fata Allah Ya Baka tsawon rai Mai amfani. Yanda ka yaki magauta kuma kayi nasara akansu, Allah zai baka sa’ar cheto talakawan Nigeria. Muna nan muna taya ka yakin anan jihar Jigawa. Allah Ya kareka.
You will leave been alive to witness years uncountable, and to begin the impact in the lives of our generation… hope the smiles will reign always..
I can’t get the book. I need it pls. Can u make it available for us here in Nigerian store from iTunes
Many more ahead sir LLNP
you will live to be the great man that you are long live the favorable humble man. greetings from abia state
Pls sir I want know about your nest plan because we dont want people like you to be westing. Thank you sir
hpy BD sir great leader and also nigerian president in feature and boss of AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA your name is flying in a nigerian face sir BRAVO 4 U
HBD BABA TUREKI
Happy birthday,sir.Wishing you more meritorious service to our father land,Nigeria
Turaki is a Man that wants to stay close to his people, ever since he left office, his hunger has been how he can touch and better the life of the down trodden. If only we can tap his potentials, he has a lot to give, mostly to up coming generations. We pray for this manifestations Politically.
All hail ‘Turaki of Nigeria’! May Almighty Allah crown your efforts with your heart desires. Amen!
Slm. Yallabai, though am late but I would like to use this opportunity to thank you, to further encourage you and to pray for you. The ruling Nigeria today is beyond our comprehension. So that all we can do is to get close in people like you, for making future Nigeria good and likely. WISHING YOU THE BLESSING FROM ALLAH.
You are a grate and wonderful man sir. I wish you could be my mentor in the area of business and politics, just like the late Shehu Musa Ya’adua was to you. I love leaders like you, who believe in the philosophy of: education for knowledge, knowledge for service, service for humanity. Please sir, may I have the privilege of meeting you?
Turakiiiiii
Your a great leader…Atiku