Why Emir of Kano married 18-yr-old Adamawa princess as 4th wife

Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, married the daughter of the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Barkindo-Musdafa, in a low-key royal ceremony held in the capital, Yola on Friday, September 25.

18-yr-old Sa’adatu Barkindo-Musdafa, a recent secondary school leaver, became the emir of Kano's fourth wife after completion of the Islamic wedding rites which took place at Lamido of Adamawa's palace right after Jumma’at prayer.

READ: 38-yr-old woman weds 19-yr-old lover after Skype and BBM chat [PHOTOS]

Invited wedding guests who were mostly dignitaries and government officials in Kano, entered discreetly into Yola to avoid journalists, Premium Times reports.

It was also gathered that Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, acted as guardian for the emir of Kano who was absent while Adamawa governor, Jibrilla Bindow, played the role of the bride’s guardian, who gave her hand out in marriage.

A government official said the marriage it's in line with Islamic directives.

READ: 17-year-old Chechen woman forced to marry a married man 30 years older

"His decision to take a new wife is in line with Islamic injunction.

Islam allows having a maximum of four wives for those who can treat all of them equally and provide for a large family,’’ said a top Kano state government official who was present at the low-key royal wedding.

“So, the engagement of the Adamawa princess to Emir Sanusi II may also be a move to deepen royal bond between Adamawa and Kano.

READ: 84-yr-old actor weds 24-yr-old lover

“You see, historically, both emirates have similar origins in the 19th Century Uthman Bn Fodio’s jihad,’’ a social media user Dan’Almajiri Ibrahim commented.

Muhammadu Sanusi II who is currently away in Saudi Arabia, acting as leader of Nigeria’s delegation to this year’s hajj, has three other wives - first wife Sadiya, daughter of the late emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, Maryam and Rakiya.