TheCable

The hopes of friends and political associates of Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto state, of enjoying a lavish wedding ceremony for his new wife, Maryam Mairo-Mustapha, were dashed Friday after the couple’s families opted for a private ceremony to usher the bridegroom into her new home.

Tambuwal took Mairo-Mustapha as second wife penultimate Friday in Kano.

A very confused associate, who made the trip to Kano from Yola, was left bemused after he was informed that the modest ceremony would involve only ladies and close family members.

“This is not how Governors wed,” the associate, a former member of the federal house of representatives, said.

“Even though I know situation is a bit hard in the country, I expected a ceremony befitting his status as governor. Even though we came from far for this, we will respect his wish and pray for a matrimonial bliss for his new family.”

When contacted by The Cable for comments, Tambuwal’s spokesman, Imam Imam, urged reporters to “respect the couple’s privacy” since they opted to hold a private ceremony.

Reporters in Kano had a hectic time trying to identify the venue of the wedding. When they eventually did, it was at a family home of the Mustaphas in Nasarawa area of the city devoid of ostentation.

Reports indicate that a small number of ‘women-only’ IVs were sent out few days ago for the ceremony in Kano to prepare the IT and Oil and Gas executive for the journey to her new home.

Even in Sokoto where Tambuwal is the governor, many were not aware of the Kano wedding. A senior female civil servant, who declined to be named, said after waiting for official notification of the wedding, they gave up and decided their presence may not be needed after all.

“We actually organised ourselves waiting to be part of the wedding activities. Some of us even prepared what to wear but yesterday, we were told it would be a private wedding and that only family members will attend,” she said.

“What is the point of attending an event you are not invited to? We didn’t begrudge the governor. It is good he has shown to us that he is a man of modesty and we wish him success in his marriage.”

On February 4, Maryam became Tambuwal’s second wife at a very private ceremony in Kano; and the bride, a 36-year-old graduate of Bayero University, immediately travelled to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj, judging by posts on her Facebook wall.

A volunteer for the Buhari Support Organisations during the 2015 electioneering, her father was a second republic politician. The Kano ceremony was attended by only family members and there were no parties thereafter.

Tambuwal, who recently marked his 50th birthday, was said to have met the former student of Federal Government Girls College, Kazaure, Jigawa state, “not too long ago”. When contacted, Tambuwal’s spokesman, Imam Imam, neither denied nor confirmed the story, insisting that “it is a private matter”.