family in law & politics

Dangote, Sanusi, Mangal… Northern Nigeria’s powerful interconnected elite

By Eniola Akinkuotu

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Posted on June 29, 2023 15:46

Former Nigerian Defence Minister and oil magnate General Danjuma sits with his wife, former senator Daisy after he was turbaned the Jarmai Zazzau title by the Emir of Zazzau in Zaria — Former Nigerian Defence Minister and oil magnate General Theophilus Danjuma sits with his wife, former senator Daisy Danjuma after he was turbaned the Jarmai Zazzau title by the Emir of Zazzau, Shehu Idris (not pictured) in Zaria, Kaduna State June 22, 2013. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

Although Nigeria is a diverse country with at least 250 ethnic groups, the northern Muslim elite have a multiplicity of connections to one another through marriage. Has it helped them stay in power?

In 2015, speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal emerged as the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State. Tambuwal’s main challenger was ambassador Abdallah Wali of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

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