The Ghanaian Minaret

Sokoto, Nigeria – A high-profile marriage ceremony that was contracted between the daughter of the Sultan of Sokoto, Fatima Abubakar and her husband Mahmood Abdullahi Yuguda made headlines for an unusual reason.

It was publicly declared that the bride price paid was ₦50,000- equivalent to ₵760 GHS which was seen by many to be relatively cheaper considering the class of persons involved in the ceremony.

The clamour for higher bride prices comes at a time when some scholars are advocating that women demand more and men pay higher bride prices as a way of honouring women and the institution of marriage as a whole.

The ceremony which happened over the weekend at the Sultan Muhammed Bello Mosque in Sokoto was attended by prominent personalities that comprised a federal government delegation headed by Abah Kyari, the chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari and Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)

Others include Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Muhammad Tanko; Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Muhammad Adamu; Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Idris Ahmed; former Bauchi State Governor, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and former Sokoto state governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa.

Also present were state governors, emirs, chiefs, prominent clerics, representatives from the House of Representatives and business moguls like Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Alhaji Dahiru Mangal.

Local media reports have speculated that over 17 private jets flew dignitaries from various locations in Nigeria to Sokoto for the event.

Sheikh Buhari Siriddawa, the Sarkin Malaman Sokoto (Chief of Sokoto Scholars), led a group of Muslim clerics to solemnise the marriage between Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar’s III  daughter and son of Isa Yuguda, a former Bauchi State governor.

The bride was represented by the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammadu Bashar, while the groom was represented by the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwan Adamu.

While at the wedding reception, dignitaries, led by the Chief Imam of Ghana, Sheikh Usman Sharubutu, took time to offer special prayers for the father of the bride who happened to be President General of the  Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) as he turned 63 years same day.