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General News of Wednesday, 25 January 2023

Source: www.mynigeria.com

He said ‘I will pay him back' - Titi Abubakar recounts the day she met Atiku, 47 years ago

A throwback photo of Atiku Abubakar and Titi Abubakar at Late Fela Anikulapo Kuti's shrine A throwback photo of Atiku Abubakar and Titi Abubakar at Late Fela Anikulapo Kuti's shrine

Titi Abubakar, wife of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the circumstances that led her to meet the former vice president at the Idioroko border 47 years ago.

Titi made the comment when she received a group known as Women for Atiku in 2018.

According to her, Atiku who was a former customs officer then intervened when a group of officers on duty insisted that she pay duty for a gift item from her aunt while returning to Lagos from Cotonou.

She said, “I was on my way back to Nigeria from Benin Republic when I went to visit my aunt at the Idioroko border and was accosted by officers of the Customs Service.”

“They had demanded that I pay duty for a pair of brocade materials which was a gift from my aunt, an argument ensued between us and I told them to take the brocade material because I couldn’t comprehend why I should pay duty for a pair of brocade.

“Suddenly an officer by the name Atiku Abubakar who heard our argument summoned the officers to come along with me to his office.

“He was the head of the command at the time. After listening to both sides, Atiku demanded the duty charge, dipped his hand into his pocket and paid the duty and handed me the receipt smiling and saying that ‘I will pay him back’.

“As the head of the command he could have simply commanded them to let me go if he chose to, but his patriotism to fatherland would never allow him do so, and that singular act swept me off my feet and I eventually fell in love.”

She went on to describe her husband as a man whose integrity, honesty and sincerity.

She continued, “I usually get confused whenever I read the false allegations of corruption being spread by mischief makers against my husband in the media.”

“Most times I ask myself if they were referring to my husband whom I have been married to for 47 years or a different person.

“Their descriptions only befit the opposite of Atiku Abubakar, because he is not corrupt as alleged.”

NBA