The Interview Editors
Atiku Abubakar – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Date of Birth: 25 November 1946
Qualifications
- Law Diploma from Ahmadu Bello University, 1969
- Served in Nigeria Customs Service and rose to the position of deputy director
- Elected governor of Adamawa State in 1999 but did not take office
- Elected vice president in 1999 and served in that capacity for eight years.
Policy positions
Security:
He has promised to review the security architecture of the country. He is in support of the creation of state and community police in line with the principles of restructuring.
Economy:
He wants to build an ICT industry and make Nigeria a destination for outsourcing. His plan is to stimulate economic growth, and create jobs by focusing on MSMEs and agriculture.
Education:
His primary focus is to tackle the problems of millions of out-of-school children.
Health:
He has made personal investments in the health sector and is promising to expand access to health for all Nigerians.
Corruption:
He wants to tackle corruption by strengthening the anti-graft institutions.
Strengths
He has valuable experience in business, politics and governance. He is also seen as a detribalized Nigerian building bridges across regional lines.
Weaknesses
He has been implicated in a bribery allegation while he was vice president, and is reportedly barred from entering the United States of America. He has been unable to shake off the perception that he is corrupt.
