By Kingsley Agim
Saturday, September 18, 2021, will continue to be an historical day in Cross River State, a date that symbolizes the unity of Nigeria which Calabar and Cross River State stand for.
History establishes that Calabar as the first capital of Nigeria, was the city where the Northern and Southern Protectorate agreement was signed, little wonder the city/state is known for many firsts.
Another first recorded in Calabar was the Wedding Fathia of a famous journalist, public affairs commentator, writer and media entrepreneur, Alhaji Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair and his heartrob, Zainab Oluwatoyin Usman both from ilorin in Kwara State.
The "Special First" was the attendance of the Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade and the Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Chief Kayode Alabi, both Christians but served as Special Father and Father of Groom at the wedding Fathia.
Ayade became the first sitting governor to have attended a Muslim Wedding in the mosque in Cross River State from start to finish without hurrying to leave as characterized by most chief executive of states.
The event which started at 9 o’clock at the Eastern Naval Command Central Mosque, Calabar, in line with Islamic religion, had in attendance, the creme de la creme in the society.
Eminent personalities from the political, religious, social strata, as well as media glitterati. Worthy of note were the Executive Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency, Senator Ben Ayade and his Deputy, His Excellency Professor Ivara Esu; the Deputy Governor of Kwara State, His Excellency, Kayode Alabi; Leader of the 8th Senate, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba; former Minister and top brass politician, Pastor Usani Usani; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams and his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Joseph Bassey; Leader of the house Peter Odey; Commissioners, Special Advisers and other appointees of Cross River State and Kwara State Governments; representative of the Emir of Ilorin led by the Mufashiru of Ilorin, Fadilat Sheik Uthman Sannu Sheu, and his entourage, Sheik Abdulganiy Ita-Kure, Mukadam Taofiq Nurul-li Hakeem , Sheik Adam Agbarigidoma. Chief Imam in Yewaland, Ogun State Fadilat Sheik Abdulfattai Quazeem Akewusola, the representative of the Emir of Kano; leaderships of Hausa and Yoruba Muslim communities, as well as friends from the diaspora.
Also worthy of mentioning was the family of the late commissioner of police in Cross River State and an Ilorin son, Abdulkadir Olanrewaju Jimoh led by his first son, Habeebulahi Jimoh. The Daar Communications Family led by Imoni Mac Amarere, Gbenga Aruleba, Jire Ikuforiji, Adebayo Bodunrin,Remi Akerele, Lawrence Igonor among others. The representatives of TVC, Sliverbird, Arise TV and also the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammed Abdulkadir were all in attendance.
The wedding Fathia witnessed prayers , including Special Donation of Ten Million Naira (N10 million) to the Mosque and a brand new car gift to the couple by Governor Ben Ayade.
At the reception, the precincts of the famous Channel View Hotel in Calabar was jam-packed to rafters. It was not a political event as it is usually the case. It was venue for the reception of the matrimony between the towering media professional and African Independent Television (AIT) correspondent in Cross River State, Alhaji Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair and lover Hajia Zainab Oluwatoyin Usman.
With the cremé de la cremé seated in all their magnificence in the Conference Hall of the prestigious Channels View Hotel, coupled with the reeling out of a rich catalogue of traditional-religious activities, the reception became a cynosure of glitz and glamor that would go down as a wedding classic.
Apart from the rich tradition and religious displays that thrilled the audience and will leave attendees talking about it for a long time, another aspect of the event that fascinated me were the teachings on the values of marriage and the cardinal virtues of life. The teachings and occasion really highlighted the beauty of marriage as “a language of two, knitted for the display of God’s splendor.”
The Kwara-born journalist, whom was thrown into widowerhood through the pathetic loss of his first wife and mother of his three lovely children some years ago, now, by the stroke of providence, has found love again in Zainab. Little wonder they say, love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
As Rasheed and Zainab unite in obedience to God’s ordinance, I joined others across the globe to wish them conjugal bliss, and pray that their joys be as bright as the early morning sun rise , and every sorrowful memory fade like shadows in the sunlight of love.
Congratulations.
Kingsley Agim, a journalist, writes from Calabar.
Comments
Post a Comment