Atiku Abubakar, a prominent Nigerian politician and businessman, has led a public life marked not only by his political ambitions but also by his extensive family, built through a series of marriages. A devout Muslim, Abubakar has embraced polygamy, often stating his desire to expand the Abubakar family, having felt lonely as an only child. His romantic history spans decades, characterized by commitment to his wives and the raising of a large number of children.
His marital journey began in 1971 with Titilayo Albert, a Christian Yoruba woman from Osun State. Their union was initially kept secret, as Titilayo's family reportedly opposed the marriage. Despite the initial hurdles, their relationship endured, and Titilayo, who later adopted the name Amina and converted to Islam, became a strong advocate for women and children's rights, founding the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF). Together, they have four children: Fatima, Adamu, Halima, and Aminu. Their marriage has remained strong for over five decades, with Atiku often speaking fondly of her as a blessing.
In January 1979, Abubakar married his second wife, Ladi Yakubu. This marriage brought six more children into the Abubakar fold: Abba, Atiku, Zainab, Ummi-Hauwa, Maryam, and Rukaiyatu. While details surrounding their meeting are not widely publicized, their union was a significant part of his early family life. However, this marriage eventually concluded in divorce. According to reports, Abubakar divorced Ladi to adhere to Islamic marital laws, which permit a maximum of four wives simultaneously, allowing him to marry his subsequent partner.
Four years later, in 1983, Atiku Abubakar married Princess Rukaiyatu Mustafa, the daughter of the revered Lamido of Adamawa, Aliyu Mustafa. This union further solidified his connections within traditional northern Nigerian society. Princess Rukaiyatu, a well-educated woman, bore him seven children: Aisha, Hadiza, Aliyu (named after her late father), Asmau, Mustapha, Laila, and Abdulsalam. Their marriage has been a lasting one, with Princess Rukaiyatu often seen supporting her husband's political endeavors.
His fourth marriage, in 1986, was to Fatima Shettima. Fatima also contributed significantly to his large family, giving birth to seven children, including two sets of twins. Her children are Amina, Mohammed, Hafsat, twin boys Ahmed and Shehu, and twin girls Aisha and Zainab. Like his marriages to Titilayo and Princess Rukaiyatu, his union with Fatima Shettima has remained intact, contributing to the stability of his expansive family structure.
Sometime after 1986, Abubakar married Jennifer Iwenjiora Douglas, an Igbo woman and former NTA News correspondent. This marriage gained significant public attention, particularly as Jennifer was from a different ethnic background. Together, they had three children: Abdulmalik, Zahra, and Faisal. Their relationship was public, and Jennifer was often seen by his side during his political campaigns. However, this marriage concluded in a highly publicized divorce in 2021. While Jennifer Douglas stated that she sought the divorce due to a "breakdown of our marriage" and explicitly denied it was because Atiku married a new wife, Abubakar's media team indicated that her "insistence on living in Dubai" and keeping the children with her there was a primary reason for the separation, which he found incompatible with a matrimonial relationship. The divorce proceedings were reportedly initiated by Atiku's lawyers in Dubai.
Following the divorce from Jennifer Douglas, Abubakar reportedly married a Moroccan lady around 2017 or 2021, though her specific name has not been widely publicized in the media, often being referred to simply as "Lady Morocco" or "Moroccan wife." This marriage allowed him to maintain the maximum of four wives permitted under Islamic law after his divorce from Jennifer. Public details about this relationship are scarce, as it has largely been kept out of the intense media spotlight that characterized some of his earlier unions. This most recent marriage underscores his continued adherence to his stated family philosophy and cultural practices.
Atiku Abubakar's romantic history is a testament to his commitment to family, marked by multiple enduring marriages and a large progeny. His relationships, while sometimes subject to public scrutiny and speculation, have consistently reflected his personal values and cultural background, forming a significant aspect of his public persona as a family man and a political figure in Nigeria.