Although it was a low-key ceremony, men of all walks of life gathered at the residence of President Muhammadu Buhari in the ancient city of Daura, Katsina State, yesterday, when the President’s second daughter, Fatima, got wedded to her heartthrob, Malam Gimba Yau Kumo, a former Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank amid pomp and pageantry.
Daura was agog, as diplomats, politicians, technocrats, businessmen, captains of industry and even commoners trooped out in their hundreds to witness the marriage of the president’s daughter. Clad in blue lace, blue veil and silver shoes to match, Fatima’s eyes continued to radiate towards the direction of her handsome husband who wore white caftan and red cap, including a fitting expensive foot wear.
During the Fatia celebration which heralded the marriage proper at about 2:00 P.M. and lasted for about 10 minutes, the Imam of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Mosque, Imam Musa Monsur, called for the payment of the dowry, which was put at the cost of N100, 000. Afterwards, he prayed for the couple and invoked God’s blessings on them, just as he advised them to always put their trust in God and put God first in every decision they take. He also urged the new couple to remain patient with each other and imbibe the good virtues of marriage.
Hajiya Hadiza Sheikh, elder sister to the bride, described her as, “a very nice girl. She gives us our right and we love her. She never had any problem with any of us. She is gentle. We are a very united family and whereever we go, we preach unity and love. She doesn’t like trouble and I want to say that the husband is a very lucky man. I wish her all the best in life. I am so happy for her and I wish them a happy union forever.”
Cousin to the bride, Hajiya Biliki Buhari, thanked God for making the marriage ceremony, a memorable and unique one, describing Fatima as a devout Muslim who has the fear of God at heart, disciplined, honest, amiable and very accommodating.
Habiba Maina, friend to the bride, also could not hold her joy during the ceremony, saying “In fact, today is one of the most important day in General Muhammadu Buhari’s family. We are all happy.”
Going down memory lane, Habiba recalled that, “this husband she has found now approached her when we were in our first year in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1992. So, this Alhaji Yau approached her for marriage right then, but they couldn’t make it that time. God has His own special ways of working out things like this; and God kept His special day for us and today is the day they have to reunite and God has made it for us today, so, we are very happy.”
Halima Usman Daura, a childhood friend to the bride, said Fatima’s major dislike is dishonesty, “because she is a very honest person, very caring and she is a person you can always count on. She is a very simple person, she likes nice people, she likes decent people because she is also descent and nice.”
Hassan Buhari, elder brother to the bride, said he was very happy to witness her sister’s marriage. According to him, “she is a sister to me, but she is also like a mother to me. I call her my Aunty because of her generosity. So, I want to say that the couple is a good match. Though humans are not perfect, but they should learn to tolerate themselves because everybody has his or her own up and down in life. May the God Almighty give them the grace to remain together forever as husband and wife.”
Also, sister to Fatima, Hadiza Buhari-Bello, popularly called Nana, said, “the bride is my only sister, same mother, same father, she is a very nice person, she is down to earth, she is very simple, welcoming and she is somebody that I don’t anybody would want to hurt her and she wouldn’t want to hurt anyone because she wouldn’t allow you to penetrate her and hurt her. She is a sister, a mother and a friend.”
Top dignitaries that graced the marriage ceremony include members of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet, All Progressive Congress (APC) bigwigs, serving and past lawmakers, governors, traditional rulers, and security chiefs. There was, however, tight security in Daura town during the duration of the ceremony.