President Muhammadu Buhari formally married off his daughter, Fatima, to Malam Yau Gimba Kumo on Friday in Daura, his home town in Katsina State.
The wedding took place at the president’s residence on Mai’adua road, Daura at 2.40 p.m.
The groom, who was a former Managing Director of Mortgage Bank, paid N100,000 as the bride price.
Fatima becomes the fourth wife of Gimba, who is a former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.
The marriage was contracted in accordance with Islamic injunctions and was attended by top Federal and States’ Government officials.
They included the governors of Gombe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, and his counterpart from Bauchi, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar.
Ministers of Interior, Mr Abdurrahman Dambazau; Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali; Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; Controller-General of Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, and Director-General, Department of State Service, Mr Lawal Musa Daura, also graced the occasion.
Others were Senators Mustapha Bukar (Katsina North); Ahmed Sani from Zamfara State and Danjuma Goje from Gombe State.
Guests had unhindered access to the president’s residence, venue of the marriage, in spite the heavy presence of security personnel.
However, only few prominent personnel had access to the main sitting room where the wedding took place.
Praise singers and drummers were not left out of the ceremony as they added glamour to the event.
The city witnessed tight security before, during and after the wedding.
There was heavy deployment of security personnel in and around the residence of the president.
Security personnel were also deployed in strategic locations to protect lives and property during the wedding.
Amoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was stationed at the junction linking to the residence of the president.
The venue of the wedding, Low Cost Jumu’at Mosque, also witnessed heavy presence of joint security personnel, who surrounded it.
However, worshipers, who trooped to Mosque, had unhindered access to observe their religious obligation.
While that was going on, security personnel were seen patrolling the town to guard against any eventuality.
Also, business activities flourished during the wedding.
Super markets, shops, soft drink sellers and commercial motorcyclists recorded a boom in their businesses as visitors and well wishers from across the country were sighted purchasing various traditional wares.
The traders at Daura city market also conducted their businesses without hindrance.
The soft drink and bottled water sellers are receiving high patronage due the scorching heat in the ancient city.
There was high vehicular traffic as various brands of assorted cars and jeeps belonging to invitees flooded the town.
Several of the invitees drove straight to the Emir of Daura’s palace, Alhaji Umar Farouq, to pay homage before proceeding to the venue of the wedding.
The residents of Daura were also seen in high spirit, receiving and entertaining visitors as well as directing them to various places in appreciation of their presence for the high profile wedding.
