With Adetumji Ayobrown
The world of power truly has the dynamics of the jungle. Where there
are people who live by hunting, there are, however, enormous number of
creatures like hyenas and vultures that live off the hunting of
others. But despite these, in all my catalogue of history, I have
never seen this kind of atrocious affront and shameful act, Mamman
Daura, Buhari’s nephew and a de facto head in the Villa allowed his
daughter to disrespect not only the office of the first lady but worse
still, office of his boss. Many condemnations and still counting
trailed the crisis in Buhari’s home, as many noted ‘Aisha battles
Daura family’.
When you have a friend for a subordinate, such scenarios between the
duos is likely. With time, instead of confidence reposed in them, they
will exhibit arrogance and disdain. The airwaves was awash with
Fatima, Mamman Daura’s daughter interview, consenting to the fact that
she indeed shot and leaked the now infamous video clip, which showed
the wife of the President in a very angry mood. Though, she said the
incident happened over a year ago when the wife of the President, on
the instructions of the President asked the Dauras to vacate their
living quarters inside the villa for a sick Yussuf Buhari, who was
recuperating after an accident, but that is not enough excuse to many.
Aso Rock should venerate the president and his family, providing them
with a micro-comic world that must struggle to please them. Such
behaviour shows the president family is not secured. Though, Daura and
his family too can enjoy the benefit of his position, but not at the
detriments of the first family, most things at such place are judged
by how they are seen. Long before the accident, Aisha had requested in
writing for the Dauras to vacate the place because the building is
officially designated for the biological children of any serving
President, even after the order for the Dauras to vacate the Villa
accommodation was approved by the President, they did not.
But I tell you Hajia understood perfectly well that when you stumble
on rumbles and not want to tumble, you may have to struggle. Many
believe she no longer understood how the real world of Aso Rock
operates, others said may be Hajia Aisha has been out for too long and
more than necessary. Mrs Buhari was quoted as saying Fatima recorded
the video while mocking her. As that was not what cut many, after all
odds but the humility displayed by Aisha Buhari when she apologised
over the viral video recorded by Fatima Daura.
What was the intent for the video if not for mischief? Imagine Fatima
didn’t showcase her part in the drama where the door was locked
against the first lady to deny her access to some areas of the villa,
neither did she acknowledge the abuse she first vented before the
First Lady reacted under the instruction of DG Lawal Daura, who was
brought into government by Mamman Daura.
The video released in the wake of the rumour claiming President
Muhammadu Buhari was going to take a second wife showed part of the
First Lady’s body while shouting on the need for the Dauras to leave
that particular accommodation (Glass House) in the Villa. She added
that Daura’s family did what they did to her because President Buhari
had sacked them from the house.
She was driven by emotions which she could not control, or how else
will you describe this? In an interview with BBC in which Fatima
accused the wife of the President of unruliness, she said she recorded
the video when the first lady attacked her inside the presidential
villa in Abuja. What absurdity?!
It is rather unfortunate that President Buhari is abusing his office
and using his power to advance selfish motives. Apart from the
immediate family of the President and direct staff, the Villa is not
meant to be used to house political friends, uncles or concubines,
such does not even happen in banana republic.
One should become impulsive where there is a possibility of danger, is
my take. Commenting on the video upon her return to Nigeria after
spending two months in the United Kingdom, Mrs Buhari confirmed that
she was the angry woman in the viral video. The First Lady said she
was angry in the video because she was denied access to parts of the
Villa by Daura and his family, but while Nigerians expected a denial,
none came from the presidency.
Many saw the episode not only as an absurdity but also mockery of the
first family. While some Nigerians took Fatima Daura’s action as a
breach of protocol, others called on President Buhari to wade into the
matter. To me, choosing a great opponent sometimes creates an
appearance of greatness but with her actions, many Nigerians tweeted
in condemnations of her actions.
Despite all these, Hajia Aisha still apologised to all. Perseverance
is more effective than brute strength. She had been in the know, but
still bided her time, imagine even the guards knew these, as it
involves the daughter of the beloved Daura, they took sides.
For her to even stand-up against the first lady tells the kind of
training she had in her growing years. Honestly, many Nigerians saw
that in different colours. Of course, she is a ‘big girl’, but she
forgot that half the game in Aso villa is to keep it quiet and careful
watching those around, her father needs to tutor her on this. Strange
happenings inside Aso Rock are being exposed as many more reactions on
the feud are still generating reactions, which show that the battle of
supremacy it is far from being over.
Time is a terrible item and dangerous enemy to those who rush into
action at the wrong time, after pushing her thus far. Bad theatre is
nothing but it creates embarrassments to all concerned. Many can’t
phantom or understand any cogent reason why Fatima would post such
video and to crown it all, had the audacity to grant such interview to
not a local but a medium like BBC to expose her ‘nudity’ nudity. By
all standards Aisha is more than big enough to be her mother. Would
she have acted in such a manner if it were her mum, was a question on
many lips.
Reputation depends more on what is hidden than on what is seen. Fatima
is acting out her father’s script many believed. It you can’t be good,
please be careful will be my advice. Whatever she got for the release
of the video shows nothing but how she was brought up. Aisha should be
wary of new enemies in old friends’ skin is my candid advice.
Never affect friendliness and intimacy with your boss, the likes of
Mamman Daura need not be told. There is danger in displeasing the
president. Aides must be gracious and polite, wizards in the
accommodation of theirs influences for and not against their
principals.
Despite this, the Dauras deliberately refused to comply with the
instructions of the security agencies. Fatima did not say this in her
interview. It is almost impossible to escape the astonishment of the
public, though the Presidency faulted the release of the video. Aisha
extended her apology to her children, her immediate family members and
all well-meaning Nigerians over the embarrassment that the video had
caused. Buhari’s alleged second wife is truly a real and major
headache for Hajia, it made her cut short her US trip. You can walk
into the eye of the storm, but don’t stumble in to it!
*Ayobrown, Senior System Analyst, National Pilot Newspaper, writes via
[email protected]
