By Abdulkareem Haruna

The city of Maiduguri, Borno state, was practically shut down on Saturday as no less than 17 serving governors teamed up with vice president Kashima Shettima and former President Muhammadu Buhari to grace the wedding of Governor Babagana Zulum’s first son.

The grand wedding was attended by creme de la creme, one of Nigeria’s major players in business and politics. 

The Speaker of the 9th Senate and the deputy senate president were among the line of countless personalities that were at the colorful event that was hosted by the Shehu of Borno, His Eminence Abubakar Garbai Elkanemi, at Shehu’s palace in Maiduguri. 

The expansive central mosque of Maiduguri, where the nuptial was sealed per Islamic rights, was almost bursting at the seam as a heavy deployment of security operatives sweated to control an ever-surging crowd. 

Former president Buhari, who acted as the groom’s advocate, asked for the hand of the bride in marriage on behalf of Governor Zulum. In contrast, Vice President Shettima, who stood in for the bride’s father, gave out the bride in the full glare of witnesses who saw him receive 12 gold coins as the given bride price. 

Former governors led by Kaduna state governor Nasir Elrufai and Kano Abdullahi Ganduje were also at the event. 

It was a homecoming for the NNPCL Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari, and Nigeria’s money bag, Muhammadu Ndimi. Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, was also at the event. billionaire businessman

Ali Modu-Sheriff led the pack of former governors at the wedding. 

Governors of Kwara, Gombe, Yobe, Ogun, Niger, Ogun, Bauchi, Abia, Lagos and Katsina States, National Security Adviser Malam Nuhu Ribadu, Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, billionaire businessman, Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi, traditional rulers from within and outside Borno State amongst other dignitaries. 

Chief Imam of Borno, Imam Laisu Ibrahim Ahmad, after officiating the wedding with the attentive blessings of other top clerics and traditional rulers from Borno, Yobe, Gombe, and Nasarawa state. 

Former President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated the Zulum family and advised the couple to embrace lifelong unity, emphasizing the importance of tolerance, patience, and love in their marriage.

The event, being the most attended single wedding in Borno state’s recent history, has become the buzz of the town.