June 22, 2009
This photo essay offers a glimpse into the real story of the Yar'adua family, showing the family’s modest means before Yar’adua’s entry into public office. The photo essay exposes the lies, greed and deceptive public image cultivated by the Yar’adua family. From left: Yar'adua's first daughter, Maryam, now married to Mr. Badamasi Kabir, a member of the House of Representatives representing Katsina Central; Yar’adua’s wife, Hajia Turai; daughter Zainab, now married (2nd marriage) to Kebbi State Governor Usman Saidu Dakingari; daughter Nafisat, now married to Governor Isah Yuguda of Bauchi State (their wedding cost an obscene N3 billion).Baby A'isha Yar'adua is on Turai's laps.
Aisha was billed to marry Sokoto billionaire oil magnate, Rahamaniyya, but the wedding plans were terminated in favor of her marriage to either the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Aliero, or the Kaduna State governor, Sambo. This photo was taken on the occasion of A'isha's naming ceremony, seven days after she was born. At the time Turai could only afford a plastic necklace, but she now has access to the most expensive jewelry, including gold and diamonds.Hajia Turai and her children own choice plots of land in Abuja, interests in banks, oil companies and numerous companies that are used as fronts to milk the Nigerian treasury. Turai Yar’adua is reputed to be an aggressive collector of bribes from politicians wishing to get into juicy positions as well as those whose positions may be threatened. She charges a fee of $30,000 for anybody who seeks an appointment with her.
When Yar'adua declared his assets in 1999, he barely had N50 million naira. In 2003, he did not declare his assets, claiming that nothing had changed. But in 2007, on the eve of his swearing-in, he made a declaration of a whopping N900 million naira.
Even so, Yar’adua’s 2007 declaration was meant to fool Nigerians. It did not include several properties, including a N200 million house in Kano that Yar’adua purchased in 2002 from Kano-based Lebanese businessman, El-Tayeb.
A source that has been close to the Yar’aduas since their days in Katsina told our correspondent that “it is strange how this family with a humble beginning has become one of the most greedy in our country’s history.”
The photos speak for themselves.{joomplu:1460}{joomplu:1484}{joomplu:1479}{joomplu:1498}{joomplu:1488}{joomplu:1499}{joomplu:1480}{joomplu:1482}{joomplu:1497}{joomplu:1464}
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