FACT-CHECK: Is Atiku Abubakar originally from Cameroon?

There has been debate on the true origin of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

CameroonAtiku was born on 25 November 1946 in Jada, British Cameroon (modern-day Adamawa State, Nigeria).

Embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, was the first to stir controversy when he alleged in 2018 that was not “originally” a Nigerian.

He had claimed during a live broadcast on Radio Biafra , “Do you know that Atiku Abubakar is from Cameroon? His area of Adamawa was in Cameroon.”

However, many Nigerians have been asking, how true is that claim by Kanu?
Is Atiku Abubakar truly from Cameroon?

What to know about Jada
Jada used to be in Ganye Local Government Area in Adamawa. Ganye is regarded as the mother of the whole Chamba tribe.

Jada was never part of Nigeria legally until the February 1961 plebiscite where the people of the then Northern Cameroon voted to join Nigeria, according to an article published on Myculturebase.

A plebiscite was held in British Cameroons to determine whether the people preferred to stay in Cameroon or align with Nigeria.

While Northern Cameroon preferred a union with Nigeria, Southern Cameroon chose alignment with the mother country. On June 1, 1961, Northern Cameroon became part of Nigeria, and on October 1, 1961, the southern territory dissolved into Cameroon.

Ganye, which incorporates Atiku’s birthplace of Jada was the headquarters of British Cameroons, but following the plebiscite, joined Nigeria.

Report by Premium Times has claimed that though Kanu was correct about the historical origin of Atiku’s Jada, it is, however, instructive to note that when Mr Abubakar was on November 25, 1946 born to a Fulani trader and farmer Garba Abubakar, Jada village and other parts of Chamba land in the then Northern Cameroon were still known as British Cameroons.

Verdict: Kanu was correct about the historical origin of Atiku’s Jada, it is, however, instructive to note that when Mr Abubakar was on November 25, 1946 born to a Fulani trader and farmer Garba Abubakar, Jada village and other parts of Chamba land in the then Northern Cameroon were still known as British Cameroons.