"I Bought A House For My Mum at 14"- Former VP Atiku Abubakar

A former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar,
seems to be a dogged fighter in the game. In
politics, he has an ample dose of unsettled
issues with the ruling Peoples Democratic
Party, especially now that he is linked to the
New PDP.

Not done with that, the other day too, he engaged his
former boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, in a debate
about his eligibility to travel to the United States of
America.

However, just as the US dust is settling, the former
number two citizen on Tuesday stirred a fresh debate
on the social media space, declaring via a post on his
website that he bought a house for his mother at the
age of 14.

Atiku, in the blog post, said contrary to the belief that
he “soiled” his hands while serving in the Nigeria
Customs Service, as well as during his eight-year
tenure as Vice-President; he had a history of genuine
“business success.”

He said, “It never mattered that I had a history of
business success prior to entering politics. It never
mattered that from the moment I bought my mother a
home as a 14-year-old boy, I was running various
businesses to provide for my family.”
But tell it to the marines, seems to be the thinking of
the some Nigerian social media users, who received the
claim with a pinch of salt. Little wonder, they further
prodded him to explain how, at 14, he mustered the
financial muscle to buy a house.

For instance, an online socio-political activist, Kayode
Ogundamisi, is one of the first critics, who questioned
the former Vice-President’s claim.
Ogundamisi said, “How did we end up with deluded
characters as so called leaders in Nigeria. That former
Vice-President Atiku would have Nigerians believe he
bought a house for his mother as a minor/child is a
clear indication that Nigeria’s problem is beyond human
understanding.”

Another Facebook user, Adedayo Daramola asked,“Was
it through innovation or through corruption that the
former Vice-President accomplished the feat.”
For another Facebook user, Steve Collins-Ogwu, there
appears to be more than meets the eye.
He stated, “At that age, what was he doing to rake in
cash to have been able to afford the home? The last I
checked, he was not into entertainment of any kind or
an athlete to be able to earn cash at such an early
stage. I need him to lecture me on how he did it.”
On Atiku’s blog post also, a reader, who identified
himself simply as Inyang described the former vice-
president’s piece as “rhetoric” and called him as a
“trickster.”

Inyang said, “Sir, I pray many Nigerians will be able to
see beyond that gibberish piece of write-up and see
you for the trickster that you are. You bought your
mother a house at 14! What business brought forth such
largesse?

“I personally would like to know. Please spare us the
rhetoric and leave room for the younger and honest
blood in our beloved country Nigeria who are out there
praying for the chance to lead this country out of the
mess you and your likes have led it. Please find a place
to sit and give chance.’’