But to many Nigerians who have known him personally over the years, Atiku is much more than the political figure portrayed by campaign teams, newspapers and television cameras.
I speak as someone who has had the opportunity to work closely with him and experience a side of him that is rarely captured by public appearances or political campaigns.
As Atiku celebrates his 72nd birthday on November 25, the same day he is expected to be elevated from the title of Turaki Adamawa to Waziri Adamawa in a ceremony scheduled to take place in his hometown of Yola, I believe it is appropriate to share some of those personal experiences.
From humble beginnings to public life
Atiku Abubakar’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming Nigeria’s Vice President and a prominent businessman has been widely documented.
Much has been written about the young boy who lost his father early, sold firewood and herded cattle for wealthy neighbours, receiving grains as payment to support his family.
By the age of 15, he had reportedly saved enough money to buy his mother a mud house.
He later pursued his education, joined the civil service and eventually established businesses before entering Nigeria’s highest levels of political leadership.
His journey demonstrates what determination and hard work can achieve. However, there are other aspects of his personality that are less frequently discussed.
‘He showed me what it means to have a caring boss’
I was employed in Atiku’s media office in 2010. In 2015, I took on the responsibility of heading the Atiku Media Office, becoming his spokesperson and one of the more visible members of his team.
Initially, I regarded the position simply as a demanding job that required professionalism, dedication and a commitment to excellence.
Over time, however, Atiku showed me that he regarded his staff as more than people working for him.
He demonstrated what it meant to work for a boss who was interested in the welfare and progress of those around him.
I did not tell him when my parents were ill, but he somehow found out and called to ask about their condition.
Whenever he saw me, his first questions were often about my family and their welfare before he turned to pending assignments or other official matters.
Whenever I did something he appreciated, he expressed gratitude as though I had done him a personal favour, even when I was simply carrying out my responsibilities.
Anyone who has worked in Nigeria understands how different such an approach can be from the conventional employer-employee relationship.
‘His media office must reflect Nigeria’s diversity’
Atiku repeatedly reminded me that his media office should reflect the diversity of Nigeria.
As a result, the office has had members of staff from different parts of the country, including the South-East, South-South, South-West, North-Central, North-West and North-East.
This, to me, reflected his belief that people from different backgrounds could work together towards a common objective.
When Atiku celebrated his 70th birthday two years ago, members of the media office wanted to present him with a gift.
The challenge was deciding what to give someone who was already their employer and who, over the years, had demonstrated his generosity to members of staff during festive periods.
Eventually, we settled on a painting of his portrait.
When we presented it to him, he was visibly delighted.
A plaque we also gave him, which represented our appreciation, remains prominently displayed in his living room.
He did not dismiss what may have appeared to be a modest gift. Instead, he received it as an expression of affection and gratitude from his staff.
His concerns about Nigeria
Long before Atiku declared his intention to contest the 2019 presidential election and before he emerged as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he had shared with me some of his concerns about the direction of Nigeria.
Despite his background in northern Nigeria, he expressed concern about what he regarded as imbalance in political appointments under the Buhari administration.
He was also concerned about the continuing Boko Haram insurgency and the recurring farmer-herder clashes across parts of the country.
Atiku also expressed disappointment over some of President Buhari’s public statements and appearances, particularly those he believed had portrayed Nigeria negatively.
On one occasion, when I arrived for a meeting and noticed that he appeared particularly troubled, I asked whether everything was all right.
“In all my life, especially since the civil war, I have never been this worried for our nation,” he told me.
The period was marked by heightened tensions, including the issuance of quit notices and counter-quit notices in different parts of the country.
Looking ahead to 2019
Being in Port Harcourt to witness Atiku receive the support of delegates during the PDP presidential primary was an emotional experience for me beyond my responsibilities as a member of his team.
I saw it as an opportunity for someone whose life I had observed closely to seek a national mandate at a particularly difficult period in Nigeria’s history.
Atiku’s supporters believe his experience in business, government and public service can be brought to bear on the country’s challenges.
As he celebrates his 72nd birthday and prepares for his elevation to the title of Waziri Adamawa, I join family members, associates, supporters and well-wishers in celebrating him.
My hope is that the ceremony and birthday celebration will become a moment of reflection on Nigeria’s future and the responsibilities that come with seeking public office.
For those who support Atiku Abubakar’s political aspiration, the celebration represents another opportunity to express their desire for a change of direction ahead of the 2019 presidential election.
Mazi Paul Ibe is Media Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate for the 2019 election.
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