Inside Mai Deribe’s gold house
honestly that person will meet his waterloo. Though he’s easy-going in social activities and interaction, he detested dishonesty and lies,” he said.
“Our father’s life, as well as that of his family, was a very interesting one as we lived a joyous and fulfilling life with him. He wouldn’t condone recklessness and any sort of nonchalant behaviour. He was very vigilant with his children. Anytime he didn’t see one of his children just after Maghreb prayer; he would ask where’s that child was He would always go to his office, where every one of us would go and greet him around 10am. And when it’s evening, the bachelors would dine with him; and once you’re absent - you know the consequences.
“I was once a victim sometime in 1996. He had gifted me a new car and one day I came home late after Maghreb. During Isha prayer, he asked me where I had been because he didn’t see me during Maghreb. I told him that I was home. He asked, “Don’t you have a wristwatch?” I remained silent. Two days later, he called me and asked for my car keys. He instructed me to drop them on the table and leave the vicinity. That’s how he would penalize every one of his children if you err, irrespective of your age. I am fascinated by his lifestyle which is quite astonishing in the sense that he monitor the affairs of all 27 of his children,” said Abubakar Mai Deribe.
“He left behind 27 of us, but I can’t tell you the number of his grandchildren. They’re too many,” he said.
On the rumours making the rounds that IDPs have taken over the palace, Abubakar Mai Deribe says: “The IDPs are all over the nooks and cranny of Maiduguri city. IDPs are here, but anyone you see living here is our relative. Some of them were hitherto living somewhere in the towns and villages but because of Boko Haram insurgency, they had to migrate to this place and we provided them residence. Many of our relatives fled the Boko Haram attacks and we’re living together with them,” he said.
State of the palace
“As you know, it won’t remain in its former state like when the late Mai Deribe built it. Even the aspect of maintaining the palace is something else. Honestly, some parts of the palace are still intact as when it was first built, but they’re affected by longevity. You can see its condition and everyone is taking care of their side. So, once you take yours for granted and allow it to decay; you’re on your own. But as I testified to you earlier, its condition can be said to be ‘fair’, said Abubakar Mai Deribe.
He didn’t leave behind a will on the palace
On whether the late Mai Deribe left behind a will on the palace, Abubakar says, “As far as I know, I can’t recall him speaking on a will concerning this palace. You have seen the palace, and I can tell you he had already shared the residence among us before his demise. Everybody was given their part. But for this very palace, none of us was accorded a portion of it; it’s meant for the whole family members. We’re 27 as his children and we’re united and can tell you that no one has had issues or gone to court over the inheritance. Since he gifted everyone a portion in the residence; there was no need to talk about the inheritance among the heirs. Our eldest brother’s residence, Alhaji Zanna, was built even when this structure was being erected; but it’s not part of the palace.”
For Ba’ana, who’s saddled with the responsibility of taking care of the palace, he’s been living there residence since inception and had lived alongside the Mai Deribe for many years.
Ba’ana described the late Mai
Deribe as one who cherishes and had affection for people. He said presently, he’s in charge of the late Mai Deribe’s section which includes more than 10 huge parlours, apartments and his guest house that have all been turned to a museum where visitors throng.
Alhaji Ahmed Mai Deribe was born in 1924, and died on March 13, 2002 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, where he was on admission for an ailment. His funeral prayers were performed in the Holy Kaaba Mosque.
We’re 27 as his children and we’re united and can tell you that no one has had issues or gone to court over the inheritance. Since he gifted everyone a portion in the residence; there was no need to talk about the inheritance among