Former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has opened up on the sources of his wealth, insisting it was built long before his entry into politics.
The former vice president, whose net worth is estimated at between $1.2 billion and $1.5 billion, said his fortune was accumulated through investments spanning logistics, real estate, agriculture, and education.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Wednesday, Atiku maintained that his financial record has remained free of corruption allegations because his earnings are transparent.
“Before I went into politics, I was already in business. I was in oil and gas, logistics. I was in agriculture,” he said. “I was in a number of economic sectors of the country.”
He added that his early financial standing enabled him to play a key role in the formation of the PDP.
“I virtually set up PDP. I virtually funded it. Why was I not being accused of corruption at that time?” he asked.
Atiku also recalled that former President Olusegun Obasanjo once constituted a panel to investigate him, which included figures such as Nasir El-Rufai and Nuhu Ribadu.
“I even waived my immunity and asked them to probe me,” he said.
Atiku is currently among the leading aspirants for the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general election.
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