At the 2025 convocation of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar left the audience in awe with a powerful story of survival and bravery.
Recalling a moment of intense danger, Atiku shared, “I hide my wife and children in a wardrobe and stepped forward to confront the attackers. They shot at me but missed. I stood up and demanded, ‘Why did you fire?’ That’s what courage looks like.”
The emotional recollection was just one of many stories Atiku used to inspire the graduates, emphasizing personal struggles, defiance against dictatorship, and his deep belief in the transformative power of education.
Atiku also clarified that the founding of AUN was not simply a response to his own childhood hardships but was fueled by a vision ignited in 1961 when he was taught by the American Peace Corps.
Reflecting on his political journey, he said, “I’ve faced tribulations, been hunted, but never wavered. Patience is not weakness. It is a weapon of the wise.”
He also highlighted his resistance to military dictatorship when he rejected a military-imposed governorship position, stating, “In 1999, I earned it the right way and became Vice President.”
Paying tribute to his late mentor, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Atiku praised his courage, noting, “His blood pressure was normal on the day of his scheduled execution. That’s a soldier. That’s courage.”