When a fresh crisis broke out on Monday October 14, 2019 at the home of President Muhammadu Buhari between his wife, Aisha (First lady) and her in-laws, many were not surprised.
According to reports, the family of Mamman Daura, the President’s nephew had always had a sour relationship with the first lady, and many believed that it was one of the reasons why Aisha once spoke out, that some ‘cabal’ have hijacked the presidency.
The recent video of Mamma Daura’s daughter, Fatima who alleged that Aisha Buhari was victimising her, and the first lady’s interview with the BBC Hausa Service proved that President Buhari’s household may not be in order .
Fatima in the interview said she shot the video with her phone “in case something happens.”
In a 27-second audio clip also posted on the BBC Hausa Service website, Fatima said, “Her comments frightened me. She was hurling insults and shouting that she had never seen anything like it.
“I went back and took my (mobile) phone because if you went and said she acted the way she did, nobody would believe you (without evidence).
“She was making a lot of noise saying she was being oppressed. I filmed the encounter to show our parents and security officials for them to see in case something happens. From the way she was screaming, I even thought she would pick up something to hit us or something like that.”
In a written excerpt of the interview also pasted on the website, Fatima was quoted as giving a background to the crisis.
According to her, the face-off happened within a building within the Villa called the Glass House.
She said the Glass House was one out of several apartments within the villa, and that the President gave her father the building when he was elected as President in his first term.
“Our father stayed there for three years until when the President’s son, Yusuf, had an accident and went to Germany for treatment.
“When he returned, the President told our father to move out of that apartment to go to another apartment called “House 8” also within the villa; that Yusuf was going to stay to continue with his treatment in the Glass House.”
She further said that her parents were out of Nigeria when all these happened but her father gave instructions that she and her elder sister should go on a Saturday to move their belongings following the President’s instructions.
According to Fatima Daura, she claimed that they were putting their things together when all of a sudden, she heard noises from outside.
Fatima was quoted as saying, “I was in an inner room while my sister was in an outer one which is nearer to the main entrance to the apartment.”
She said the outer door was locked with a key which she said was the usual practice when they were indoors.
“When Aisha came and found the door was locked, ‘she used an iron chair to force the door open.”
In the video posted by Fatima, the President’s wife was heard asking questions and making comments about being locked out of a room and demanding that some people should pack their belongings and leave the apartment.
The First Lady and Fatima, in separate interviews with the BBC Hausa Service shed light on the video.
On the other hand, the President’s wife confirmed in a 25-second voice clip on the BBC Hausa Service website that she was the person in the video in question.
She accused Fatima of recording the incident while the security detail did nothing because the culprit was Mamman Daura’s daughter.
The first lady said, “I was the one in the video, those behind me were the security personnel given to protect me, but Mamman Daura’s daughter, Fatima, shot the video in the presence of security officials and everybody. She was laughing at me because my husband said they should vacate the place for my son to occupy.
“I wanted to pass through that door to go into a store but they closed the door. I took an alternative route but the door was still locked.”
However, reactions from twitter users have taken over the internet. While most comments were channelled against Fatima’s family as to why they were in Ask Rock, others said the President was using the state’s facilities as his personal property by allocating official residents to his relatives.
Here are few comments…
Ngozi Chukwuka wrote: Dear Fatima Daura, You were asked to move so @aishambuhari sick son can use the apartment, for proximity,you failed & when she reacted, you recorded her & has the effrontery to share same & claim marginalized? BTW, what is your family doing in Aso Rock?
@movtOfDPeople said, “In what capacity are you residing in the Presidential Villa, Miss Fatima Mamman Daura? You’re neither elected nor have any official appointment, yet you are waging war against the only known wife of the President. Your guts in going to town with this exposes hidden truth.”
Gamji wrote: Sir, the protection should also include protecting wives against their In laws. Fatima Mamman Daura’s disgraceful conduct is unacceptable. Villa is 4 u & ur wife ad not Mamman Daura n his family. Their stay in villa is act of corruption. #Aishabuhari
Emmanuel Ukeme said “So, these illegal occupants of Aso Rock are being fed, accommodated, etc. at the expense of the Nigerian state, using taxpayers’ money. So, does anyone still have a doubt about the Aso Rock cabals now? @aishambuhari, a mother of the nation, Nigerians are solidly behind you.”
@orenjur, stated, “Why blame Mamman Daura for bringing his family to the Villa? Was it not Buhari that gave him the Glass House in the Villa? We should be blaming Buhari for not putting his house in order.”
@Gimbason_E also said, “The Buhari presidency is already in a shambles. How come Mamman Daura has so much power to the extent that his daughter can say that about the President’s wife?
Pullo wrote: That girl Fatima Mamman Daura is rude af, that interview with BBC shows that girl doesn’t have a single atom of respect for the First Lady.
Ngozi Chukwuka wrote: Dear Fatima Daura, You were asked to move so @aishambuhari sick son can use the apartment, for proximity,you failed & when she reacted, you recorded her & has the effrontery to share same & claim marginalized? BTW, what is your family doing in Aso Rock?
