By Ajani Okanlawon
President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Zahra, practically broke the internet when her identity was blown on social media in January.
But, no sooner had the 20-year-old beauty became a trending topic than she deleted her Twitter account @Zahra3_.
In an interview with theambaimprint.com, she explained that she did so because of all the unnecessary attention she got.
Hear her: “I was getting too much attention and naturally I do not like attention like that. I would always try to quietly do my thing but then I realised that anything I said was a topic and that was exam period.
“There was a lot of stress and I just didn’t want any of that and obviously there were a lot of comments –good and bad and so I was just like maybe it’s time to step out of this for some time.”
She also expressed her hurt at the compromised Twitter handle @Zahra_Buhari with which insults were hauled at some African leaders in her name.
According to the ACE Charity Ambassador, “I don’t feel good at all because the first question that comes to your mind is ‘why would someone want to be me?’ And why would you want to taint someone’s image?’
“I knew many people would be tricked into thinking it was me. That bothered me and when the fake controversial comments came out about me talking about a president, I was hurt because this wasn’t an insult to my family only, it was to the whole of Nigeria because it is just like saying members of the first family don’t have a proper upbringing.”
Life as the President’s Daughter comes with its own challenges
“We are restricted from doing so many things because of security precautions and we see our dad less.”
The changes that have occurred in her life since her father became President on May 29 also include “changing where you live. Moving from a flat in Guildford and then moving out from our house in Kaduna and Abuja then the way there are more people around that you’re not familiar with. So, having to be more diplomatic about so many things.”
She continued: “It’s actually very hard to get to me ‘cause I have been changing numbers so people can’t really get me and the second thing is, not too many people know me personally. The problem comes up once in a while, when people now want to be closer to you but you just have to do what you have to do.”
Finally, on marriage, she said it would happen eventually.
“Maybe I have a potential,” she concluded.
You do Zahra. Yes you do.
