Although Tinubu's advance guard declines to blame President Muhammadu Buhari personally some target his nephew Mamman Daura with his formidable network across the country's political class...
Perhaps the best that Tinubu can hope for is that Buhari and his circle – such as nephew Mamman Daura Justice Minister Abubakar Malami and former spymaster Lawal Daura – do nothing to sabotage the campaign...
Mamman Daura a nephew and political ally of Buhari's caused a storm last year when he suggested that the principle of rotating the presidency between the country's six regions was not necessarily a recipe for better governance...
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His nephew former journalist Mamman Daura has been in London for several weeks and former foreign minister Babagana Kingibe hasn't been seen in the presidential villa for several weeks...
Politicians and pundits in Nigeria have shown a rare unanimity in outrage at comments by Mamman Daura widely regarded as President Muhammadu Buhari's most influential advisor about the rotation of power between north and south in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on 31 July (AC Vol 61 No 15 The shake-up that didn't happen)...
Both Kyari and Funtua were part of Buhari's inner circle along with his nephew and veteran journalist Mamman Daura and former foreign minister Babagana Kingibe (AC Vol 61 No 9 Kudos to the health-workers)...
The following names are contenders but few expect a quick decision: Colonel Hameed Ali Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service: a former Military Governor of Kudana State who is well-regarded by Buhari; Ahmed Rufai Abubakar Director of the National Intelligence Agency: a close friend of Kyari's and utterly trusted; Babagana Kingibe former foreign minister and intelligence specialist: long experience in government and close to Buhari's nephew Mamman Daura and long seen as a presidential contender; Ibrahim Gambari former foreign minister and ambassador to the UN: a unifier with good international network; Brigadier Mohammed Buba Marwa former military governor of Lagos state and founder of Albarka airline: popular and knows security from the inside; Adamu Adamu education minister: cerebral polyglot and worked with Mamman Daura on the New Nigerian; his pro-Iran views might grate with Saudi Arabia and United States; Muhammad Bello Minister of the Federal Capital Territory: an efficient administrator but may lack the required political savvy...
Politicians bankers and wonks Personnel matter as much as policy when it comes to results in Nigeria and there are at least five centres of power when it comes to the economy whose influence can shift according to politics and business interests: The Presidency at Aso Rock: President Muhammadu Buhari Chief of Staff Abba Kyari Secretary to the Government Boss Gidahyelda Mustapha and a coterie of advisors including veteran businessman Mamman Daura...
Buhari's closest advisers will again be chief of staff Abba Kyari Secretary to the Federation Boss Mustapha and his nephew Mamman Daura...
However there are other influential voices including the President's nephew Mamman Daura who have no official title but equally strong views on policy (AC Vol 57 No 21 Buhari's kitchen cabinet)...
