By Ibrahim M. Baba
Nigerian leaders from both the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, including past and present governors, and other dignitaries have on Friday by flying over 100 private jets, stormed Kano State to attend the wedding of Yusuf Muhammadu Buhari.
Yusuf, the son of President Muhammadu Buhari, married Zahra, the daughter of the Emir of Bichi Alhaji Nasir Ado Bayero, in presence of the thousands dignitaries from almost all parts of the country and neighboring Africa.
The much-awaited wedding, which was held at the palace of the Emir of Bichi, in Bichi Local Government Area of Kano State at about 2pm, after the Juma’at Prayer, was conducted by Sheikh Isa Ali Pantami, Minister of Communication and Digital Economy.
Yusuf, who met his wife Zahra, a graduate of Architecture from Brighton University, in the United Kingdom, paid N500,000 as bride price.
As Hausa tradition warrants, the president’s uncle, Mamman Daura, who stood in for the groom, paid the N500,000 bride price to the ace business mogul Aminu Dantata, who stood in for the bride, to seal the marriage according to Islamic injunction.
The wedding had caused traffic gridlock within the town and its environs, business activities were paralysed as people thronged the venue of the wedding to witness the event.
It was reported that since Wednesday 18th, people thronged Kano State in order to witness the historic event. Hotel rooms in the metropolitan area became scarce as they were all booked to accommodate the guests.
What happened in Bichi yesterday by virtue of Mr. President’s son’s wedding to Sarkin Bichi’s daughter has proved beyond reasonable doubt that there are things we can look beyond in this country to foster unity.
All the governors were there, from different political parties. A part from the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who stand as the host, Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal; Adamawa States Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri; Governor Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State; Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State; Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, Governor Inuwa Yahya of Gombe State, Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State have all graced the event.
Others were Abubakar Bello of Niger State, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa and former PDP National Chairman Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. This has therefore shown that there are some things that can bind us together and makes things better for us in this country.
From the southern part of the country, the Ooni of Ife Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and other top traditional rulers, pastors from different states of the south also graced the occasion.
Also at the event were former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President Abubarkar Atiku, and a former president of Niger Republic, Mahamadou Issoufou.
Others were the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari; Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha and IGP Usman Baba Alkali.
The President’s delegation had the Minister of Agriculture, Sabo Nanono; Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika; Minister of Defense, Bashir Magashi; Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Hussein Adamu, Minister of Interior, Ra’uf Aregbesola and Senate President, Ahmed Lawal.
People who are known to be the top politicians in the opposition party such as Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Femi Fani Kayode and Godswill Akpabio were at the event to celebrate with the president’s son.
Femi Fani Kayode who has in recent times accused the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy Dr. Isha Ali Pantami, including calling him with all sort of names in the media, was spotted in hand shake, smiles and taken pictures together at the event.
Even with fear of insecurity bedeviling the north western part of the country, these people all went to Bichi and everything went well and peacefully. Tomorrow it can be anywhere else in the country.
A part from all these, this wedding has unveiled the true popularity of President Buhari in this country and beyond. He is the only president whose event gather top politicians from all divides, opponent personalities from different political parties, different bsocial class, different religious beliefs and interacts together for a common cause.
Therefore, if President Buhari is not a good man as some ‘few” people continue to insinuate, there is no way he can gather such a momentum crowd of highly influential personalities.
The event also portrays the good parental upbringing the groom – Yusuf Buhari has enjoyed from his parents. Top religious clerics that witnessed the wedding is enough proof that Yusuf is humble, gentle and very adorable young chap whose parental background did not deter him from maintaining a good and examplary life.
The elated groom, Yusuf Buhari, dressed in traditional white attire with a head gear to match, was surrounded by his friends throughout the ceremony. He was also seeing welcoming all the dignitaries to the wedding with so much respect and joy.
As the ONLY son of the most popular African President. Yusuf was never seen doing anything that goes contrary to his religious teachings throughout the wedding programs from the beginning to an end. This of course goes contrary to most sons and daughters of prominent personalities.
Thus, this wedding has revealed many things about the decency of the Muhammadu Buhari’s family, despite being on the mantle of leadership. The president has successfully married off three children while in power which is a great milestone for him. May Allah bless the home of the couple, ameen!
© M. Baba
21/08/2021