Alhaji Adamu Atta was the first civilian governor of the Nigerian Kwara State

Kwara State

Kwara State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Ilorin. The primary ethnic group of Kwara State is Yoruba, with significant Nupe, Bariba and Fulani minorities.- History :...

 during the Second Republic

Second Republic

-Europe:* French Second Republic * Second Polish Republic * Second Hellenic Republic * Second Spanish Republic * Portuguese Second Republic, known as Estado Novo * Czechoslovak Second Republic...

, representing the National Party of Nigeria

National Party of Nigeria

The National Party of Nigeria was the dominant political party in Nigeria during the Second Republic .-Formation:The party's beginning could be traced to private and sometimes secret meetings among key Northern Nigerian leaders after the proscription of political parties in 1966 by the military...

 (NPN).

Background

Adamu Atta was an indigene of Ebira

Ebira

The Ebira These days Ebira is no more pronounced or spelt "Igbira or Igbirra" because it is considered to be insultive to most of the Ebiras but then, Ebira people are an ethno-linguistic group of Nigeria. Many Ebira people are from Kogi State, Kwara State, Nasarawa State, Federal Capital...

 land, in present Kogi State

Kogi State

Kogi state is found in the central region of Nigeria. It is popularly called the Confluence State because the confluence of River Niger and River Benue is at its capital, Lokoja, which is the first administrative capital of modern-day Nigeria....

. He was son of warrant chief Ibrahima Atta, whom the British granted wide powers under the Native Authority system, which undermined the traditional process for selection of a leader in the community.
He became the first civilian governor of the state, representing the National Party of Nigeria

National Party of Nigeria

The National Party of Nigeria was the dominant political party in Nigeria during the Second Republic .-Formation:The party's beginning could be traced to private and sometimes secret meetings among key Northern Nigerian leaders after the proscription of political parties in 1966 by the military...

 (NPN), although he came from a minority ethnic group.
In January 1967, he was permanent secretary for the federal Ministry of Finance, and was in discussions with the Soviet Union

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

 over possible development loans.

Governor of Kwara State

In the contest between Adamu Attah (a son of Ibrahima Atta) and Obatemi Usman for a seat in the Constituent Assembly in 1977, Obatemi Usman lost, and resorted to appeal to his Oziogu clan, accusing the Aniku sub-clan of Adavi to which Attah belonged, of occupying most of the public offices in Ebira land.
Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki

Abubakar Olusola Saraki

Abubakar Olusola Saraki is a Nigerian politician and tribal nobleman who was a Senator of the Nigerian Second Republic . He currently serves as the Waziri of the Ilorin Emirate.-Background:...

supported Atta in his bid to become governor of Kwara State in 1979.

Atta was responsible for establishing the Obangede Specialist Hospital.

Later career

Adamu Atta is a polo enthusiast, and owner of the Fifth Chukker Club and Resorts.
The 2008 annual IWC Laureus Polo Cup in England was won by the Laureus Team in a close match against the Julius Baer Team. Highlights were goals scored by Miquel Novillo Astrada (Team Laureus) and Adamu Atta (Team Julius Baer) hammered in from 80 yards.
His team was a strong contender in the 2009 Katsina International Polo Tournament.
He was a two times MVP award winner.