The agrarian village of Kiyi in Abuja went agog on Thursday, October 17, when 96 year-old Pa AbdRahman Munse-Bwaye married his heartthrob, 73 year-old, Rukaya Yamwa-Piri.
The solemnisation of the marriage took place at Piri, a village in Kwali Area Council.
The โAmariaโโ (new wife), who moved into her husbandโs residence from the wedding venue told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that she was โdelighted to marry a gentleman like AbdRahmanโโ.
Pa Munse, said to be about the oldest man in Kiyi village in Kuje Area Council, claimed many people discouraged him from the โNikkahโโ (marriage in Arabic), saying that he was too old for marriage.
He said that some even queried him, asking him if his sonโs wives were not taking good care of him, to which he answered โ they are taking good care of me but my own wife will certainly take care of me better,โโ.
Pa Munseโs first wife, Hajia Zainab Godobe, died in 2008.
โThough, I married a widow, Salamatu, after my wifeโs death, her children took her away some years ago leaving me without a wife, hence, I asked Rukayah to marry me and Allah made her to accept, I am very happy.โโ
When NAN visited the elderly lovers, on Friday, the wife was seen preparing โtuwondawaโโ, a guinea corn delicacy, for her husband.
Pa Munseโs son, Musa, said that all the children, grandchildren and the great grandchildren were all happy for their fatherโs marriage.
โI personally encouraged him when he told me of his plan for marriage,โ Musa said.
โInfact, I visited the relatives of his bride in different villages, including Dukpa in Gwagwalada Area Council, Chibiri in Kuje Area Council and Piri village where her father lives.
โThe visit was to get their consent in accordance with Islamic injunction and we were happy that they all gave their consent and the Nikkah was held in Mama Rukayaโs fatherโs compound in Piri,โ Musa added.
He said that he represented his father at the wedding, โFathiaโ- solemnisation in Piri because of the distance between Kiyi and Piri.
A neighbour of Pa Munse, Malam Khamilu Awwal, said that they were all happy โto see Baba happily married once again.
โBaba is a very good father to all of us and deserves the happiness that GOD is giving him through this marriage.โ
โMay GOD give Baba long life to enjoy his wife,โ Awwal prayed.โ
