The Buhari-Daura Connection: Insider Explains ‘He Did That To Him’ Moment

The oft-discussed “cabal” surrounding Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency has been given a deeply personal dimension by his daughter, Fatima Buhari, in the newly released 600-page biography, From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari.

Launched on Monday, December 15, 2025, at the State House in Abuja, the book by Dr. Charles Omole provides rare insights into why the former President maintained a close bond with his nephew, Mamman Daura, despite public scrutiny and internal criticisms.

Fatima explained that the connection was rooted not in politics, but in family and history.

“Mamman Daura’s father shared the same mother as my father,” she revealed, clarifying that they were essentially brothers in the African sense.

This bond was further strengthened during Buhari’s three-year detention following the 1985 coup. While his wives and children were denied access, Daura remained a constant link. Reflecting on her childhood, Fatima said, “I kept asking myself, ‘Why always Mamman between Baba and the family?’”

Her account highlights how Buhari’s defining trait—loyalty—sometimes became a governance weakness. Once he extended trust, it was difficult for him to withdraw it without overwhelming evidence.

Fatima recounted, “Baba would personally tell us, ‘He did this, he did that to him,’ yet he remained with him.”

Rather than public reprimands, Buhari preferred to “correct quietly” and “warn privately,” avoiding public humiliation.

“Before he realizes it, that person has committed many atrocities,” she noted, acknowledging that this approach sometimes allowed networks to exploit kinship before the President fully grasped the consequences.

The biography portrays Buhari as a man increasingly guided by empathy and religious devotion in his later years.

“He understands the web of relationships—parents, spouses, histories—and he doesn’t want to break hope,” Fatima observed, reflecting on her father’s enduring approach to leadership and family ties.