The agrarian village of Kiyi in Abuja was agog on Thursday, when AbdRahman Munse-Bwaye, a 96-year-old man, married Rukaya Yamwa-Piri, his 73-year-old heartthrob.
The solemnisation of the marriage was held in Piri, a village in Kwali area council.
The ‘Amaria’ (new wife), who moved into her husband’s residence from the wedding venue, told NAN that she was “delighted to marry a gentleman like AbdRahman’’.
The nonagenarian said to be the oldest man in Kiyi village in Kuje area council, said that many people discouraged him from the ‘Nikkah’ (marriage in Arabic), saying that he was too old for marriage.
He said that some even queried him, asking him if his son’s wives were not taking good care of him, to which he answered: “they are taking good care of me but my own wife will certainly take care of me better”.
Munse is said to be with sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren after Zainab Godobe, his first wife, died in 2008.
“Though I married a widow, Salamatu, after my wife’s 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 accept, I am very happy,’’ he said.
When NAN visited the elderly lovers on Friday, the wife was seen preparing “tuwondawa’’, a guinea corn delicacy, for her husband.
On his part, Musa, Munse’s son, said that all the children, grandchildren and the great-grandchildren were all happy for their father’s marriage.
“I personally encouraged him when he told me of his plans for marriage, in fact, 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,” he said.
“The 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 Rukaya’s father’s compound in Piri.”
He disclosed that he represented his father at the wedding ‘Fathia’ — solemnisation in Piri because of the distance between Kiyi and Piri.
