How Buhari's Close Aide, Mamman Daura Became 'Nigeria's Most Powerful Nephew.
A
thorough investigative report has revealed how Mamman Daura became the
'most powerful nephew' in Nigeria by virtue of his closeness to
President Muhammadu Buhari.
President Buhari & Mamman Daura pictured few months ago in the United Kingdom
Mamman Daura is today described as the “most powerful nephew” in Nigeria by virtue of his closeness to President Muhammadu Buhari.
At the centre of the recent complaints by Aisha, Buhari’s wife, is
that those who did not participate in the campaign were the ones calling
the shots in her husband’s government. Duara is one of those she was
referring to, having already complained privately about him.
However, what has often not been reported is how Daura came to
wield so much influence on Buhari. He is the son of Buhari’s elder
brother, but with Daura three years older, the president is “awkwardly” his uncle.
Daura, often described by associates as “extremely intelligent and brilliant”,
was a journalist and an industrialist, serving as head of the African
International Bank and also chairman of the board of the Nigerian
Television Authority (NTA).
He was editor of New Nigerian in the 1970s.
In the book, Muhammadu Buhari: The Challenges of Leadership in
Nigeria, John Paden, an American professor, offers a historical insight
into the significant role Daura played in the formative years of his “uncle”.
SETTLE DOWN
According to Paden, it was Daura, along with Waziri al-Hassan
(Buhari’s foster father), that encouraged Buhari, a reluctant student in
his early years, “to settle down and take his studies seriously”. It was also Daura that “strongly encouraged” Buhari to join the military in 1961.
Daura, Paden wrote, would become a “life-long inspiration and confidant to Buhari” who guided him all through his formative years.
Buhari would go on to become military head of state in the final
years of his career. So while Aisha might have been married to Buhari
for 27 years, Daura had known her husband for 73 years.
Paden revealed that “after the death of his mother in December
1988, Buhari was released and traveled to Daura for the mourning. When
he arrived in Daura, he found his farm much as he had left it. His
senior brother (the father of Mamman Daura), along with the Barden
Daura, had managed the cattle, sheep, and horses in his absence”.
Daura (left) with Buhari during the 2015 presidential campaign
The George Mason University professor wrote: “When Buhari’s
father died, Waziri al-Hasan – the son of Emir Musa became the
guardian of Zulaihat (Buhari’s mother) and her six children, including
her youngest, Muhammadu. This played a major role in the upbringing
of Buhari.
“This extensive kinship network also affected the future of
Buhari in another important way. His senior brother was the father of
Mamman Daura, who was three years older than Buhari, although
technically his nephew. Mamman would become a life-long inspiration and
confidant to Buhari. He was especially critical in encouraging Buhari to
pursue lifelong education.
“Like many boys at that time and place, Buhari went to Quranic
school before going to primary school. He was not enthusiastic about
these studies. Early each morning, he would get up and have to fetch
firewood for his teacher for the evening Qur’anic readings. There were
also several hours of Qur’anic lessons in the morning, at a time when
Buhari would rather be outside playing.
“In part because of his love of the outdoors, Buhari was a
reluctant student in his early years. He would often skip school
altogether, although this always resulted in beatings with a cane by the
schoolmaster. Only with the encouragement of Waziri al-Hasan and Mamman
Daura did he eventually settle down and take his studies seriously.”
NIGHTMARE VENTURES
Young northern boys were being encouraged to join the army in the
years around Nigeria’s independence, and Buhari was encouraged by his
uncle to consider a military carrier.
“Meanwhile, the Emir of Katsina, whose emirate adjoined Daura
Emirate, was encouraging bright young men to go into the military and
train to become officers. His own son, Hassan Katsina, had become a
military officer,” Paden wrote.
“When Buhari was considering his options in 1960, Hassan
Katsina would often take the secondary school boys out for night hikes
and to sleep under the stars. Buhari enjoyed the great sense of
adventure of these nighttime ventures into nature.
“In addition to considering the military because of the example
set by Hassan Katsina, Buhari recognized that officer training provided
a pathway to further education. Yet another impetus was provided by
Mamman Daura, who strongly encouraged his “younger uncle” to consider
officer training and higher education.
“Buhari, who was now nineteen years old, had to take several
exams even to be considered for officer training. He was able to pass
English, mathematics, and general knowledge, plus he met the physical
requirements. Still, the competition was nationwide, and only about
seventy boys would be selected for officer candidate school. Of these,
only half would be commissioned.
“The competition was thus stiff, but Buhari was among those
selected. One of the key qualities needed in the military was
“leadership.” Buhari would prove himself time and again to possess that
rare gift.”
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