As Jonathan mourns, Sambo celebrates
Written by Ismail Mudashir, Kaduna Sunday, 09 December 2012 05:02
Two events were held yesterday; one was sorrowful while the other filled with joy and happiness. The events were very significant to the presidency as they were shared between the country’s First Citizen and its Second Citizen, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo.
While the remains of President Jonathan’s younger brother, Meni, who died on November 20, was being interred in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Vice President Sambo gave out his two daughters in Kaduna at a ceremony attended by high-ranking dignitaries in the country. Interestingly, the two incidents happened at the same day and perhaps the same time.
Meni died at the National Hospital, Abuja, after a brief illness on the day the President marked his 55th birthday. Vice President Sambo gave out his daughters, Aisha and Huwaila. The wedding fatiha was held at the Sultan Bello Mosque and the reception took place at Hassan Usman Katsina House, Kaduna.
Dignitaries that attended the wedding included former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, state governors Muazu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Saidu Usman Dakingari (Kebbi), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe).
The Federal Government’s delegation comprising the Chief of Defence, Chief of Air Staff and Inspector General of Police was led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’abba, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, former Ogun state governor, Gbenga Daniels and many prominent personalities attended the wedding.
Three clerics namely Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Gumi and Sheikh Balale Wali presided over the wedding fatiha.
Former President, General Ibrahim Babangida, gave out the hand of Huwaila to Mukhtar Ruma, while former Inspector-General of Police Gambo Jimeta stood in for Aisha, who was married off to Awwal Abdulrahman.
Speaking at the reception, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim said: “Today is a very important day to us because we are holding important events. First, it’s the burial of our brother and secondly the wedding of our daughters”.
He said members of the cabinet were divided into two for the purpose. “We split into two groups. The first team went to Bayelsa to bury our brother, while I am here with the Chief of Defence, Chief of Air Staff, the Inspector General of Police and many other cabinet members for the wedding of our daughters,” he added.
The SGF while congratulating the Vice President for the ceremony, wished the daughters marital bliss.
In his vote of thanks, Vice President Sambo thanked the people that graced the wedding, saying “I’m grateful and overwhelmed by the show of affection. It’s a show of love, fraternity and affection”.
According to him, the huge crowd that attended the wedding was a sign that the people are in support of the federal government and its developmental projects.
He said the transformation agenda of the Jonathan’s Administration was aimed at returning the country to the path of progress and urged Nigerians to continue to support them.
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