It has been revealed that the high
profile marriage between Zahra Buhari and Ahmed Indimi, may have been
deferred following some physical altercation at the presidential villa.
The planned high profile marriage
between Zahra Buhari, the attractive and outgoing daughter of President
Muhammadu Buhari, and Ahmed Indimi, the son of an oil magnate from Borno
State, Mohammed Indimi, may have been deferred following the physical
altercation that trailed the delivery of several stacked dowry boxes
valued at N44 million (using the official exchange rate) to the first
family.
Trouble started on November 18, during
the traditional introduction ceremony, when the sister of the groom,
Yataka Indimi, insisted on taking her mobile phone into the Presidential
Villa, Abuja, contrary to security protocol.
It was gathered that Yataka wanted to
record all the proceedings, including the delivery of the boxes made by
the French luxury brand, Louis Vuitton, with her mobile phone, despite
the fact it was against standard security protocol in the villa.
In line with the Hausa/Fulani tradition,
the boxes, according to sources, contained cash, jewelry, clothes,
bags, shoes and other gifts valued at several millions of naira for
Zahra and the first family.
However, a struggle ensued between
Yataka and the security officials who tried to compel her to comply with
protocol, only for her to resist. The incident attracted the attention
of other dignitaries who tried to stop the scuffle.
According to a reliable family source,
the argument degenerated to a scuffle, compelling the wife of the
Nasarawa State governor, Mrs. Tanko Almakura, to step in to stop the
altercation from getting out of hand and may have injured her arm in the
process.
“As of today, we learnt that the Nasarawa first lady is still nursing her wounds and is being treated for a dislocation,” the source said.
It was learnt that the incident was so
embarrassing that it incurred the wrath of the president over the
behaviour of the Indimis.
Indeed, Buhari was reported to have
threatened to return the boxes and stop the marriage ceremony that had
been scheduled to climax on Sunday, December 4.
“We
learnt that the president who was displeased with the development and
behaviour exhibited by the Indimi family, vowed to return the boxes and
not approve of the marriage.
“The
president was also of the view that the gifts were too expensive and
incompatible with his modest lifestyle and has asked the Indimis to take
the boxes back.
“I think we must give it to the president for taking this stand, and cementing his reputation for not tolerating indiscipline,” a source close to the presidency said.
However, elders close to the Buhari and
Indimi families are at the moment trying to prevail on the president not
to return the boxes, as he would be bucking tradition.
They are also working on resolving the
tension that has arisen since the altercation, so that the wedding could
go ahead as planned, if not this weekend, then as soon as possible.
Further findings revealed that while
Buhari might not be favourably disposed to the idea of marrying out his
daughter to a wealthy suitor, the wife of the president and her
daughters, who are more liberal, are rooting for the marriage.
Sources revealed that the daughters of
Mohammed Indimi, the billionaire owner of Oriental Energy that operates a
number of oil assets in the Niger Delta region, have a history of
marrying the male children of first families or former heads of state.
An insider said that Indimi’s first
daughter is married to Mohammed Abacha, son of the late military
dictator, General Sani Abacha, who ruled Nigeria between 1994 and 1998.
Another daughter is married to the first
son of former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), who
coincidentally overthrew Buhari in a palace coup in 1985, when the
latter was Nigeria’s military head of state.
“The
Babangida marriage is blessed with five children. But the marriage as
we speak, has hit the rocks and the case is in court. This, added to the
fact that Indimi’s business ties with Afren, which is being wound up in
the UK after a slew of scandals, has raised questions,” the source said.
Zahra, who is the youngest and most
visible daughter of the president, is a graduate of medical microbiology
from the University of Surrey in the UK.
She is also the ambassador for SCAF, a foundation that aims to minimize the incidence of sickle cell anaemia in Nigeria.
Source: ThisDay
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