By Peter Omopo
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday attended the wedding fatiha of the sons and daughters of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, held at the National Mosque in Abuja.
The ceremony marked the marriage of ten of Matawalle’s children—five sons and five daughters—in a single event described as historic and rare in recent times. The husbands of four of the brides are from Zamfara State, while one is from Sokoto State.
President Tinubu stood as Waliyi (father of the brides) during the wedding fatiha, which was officiated by Sheikh Dr. Abdullahi Bala Lau, a prominent Islamic scholar and National Chairman of the Jama’atu Izalatul Bidi’ah wa Ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS). Sheikh Bala Lau has led the country’s largest Salafi movement since 2011, overseeing its preaching, educational, and charitable activities.
The event attracted several high-profile dignitaries, including the Governors of Kano State, Yusuf Abba Kabir; Kebbi State, Nasir Idris; and Kaduna State, Uba Sani, alongside former governors, serving and former ministers, lawmakers, diplomats, traditional leaders, and other well-wishers.
Among those who married the Minister’s daughters were the former Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Nasiru Mu’azu Magarya, and the Director-General of the National Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), Yazid Danfulani.
Special prayers were offered during the ceremony for divine blessings, peace, and prosperity for the newly married couples.
The wedding brought together family members, friends, and guests from across the country, underscoring the social and cultural significance of the occasion.
