Buhari snubs Atiku as he clocks 75

 

Former vice-president Atiku Abubakar clocks 75 today, without the usual goodwill message from President Muhammadu Buhari.

It was not clear whether the presidential snub was a mere omission or deliberate.

Atiku, despite the political difference with Buhari attended the wedding of Buhari’s first son, Yusuf in Bichi, Kano last August.

The last person Buhari celebrated was his chief of staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, who marked 77 years on Wednesday.

It is still possible that Buhari’s aides will rush out a statement before the end of the day as 75th birthday is a milestone for any mortal.

But doubts about political correction abound because Buhari usually sends birthday wishes ahead of the celebration.

Atiku was born in Jada, Adamawa state 25 November 1946.

He is now a big businessman involved in multi-businesses, including the media.

After primary and secondary education in Adamawa, Atiku studied a short while at the Nigeria Police College in Kaduna. He left the College when he was unable to present an O-Level Mathematics result.

He then worked briefly as a Tax Officer in the Regional Ministry of Finance, from where he gained admission to the School of Hygiene in Kano in 1966.

He graduated with a Diploma in 1967. The same year, he enrolled for a Law Diploma at the Ahmadu Bello University Institute of Administration, on a scholarship from the regional government.

After graduation in 1969, during the Nigerian Civil War, he was employed by the Nigeria Customs Service.