NEWS Why we conduct mass wedding among family members – Emir of Suleja

The Emir of Suleja, Alhaji Awwal Ibrahim has shed light on the reason why the emirate always conducts mass wedding among princes and princesses of the royal house.

In an interview with North Central Trust in Suleja, the Royal father explained that it has been the tradition of the house to forge the bond of unity that has been its characteristic by matching their children for marriage.

“It’s part of our tradition here in the palace to have all princes who got to the marriageable age, and whose parents are set for their wedding. They are all brought together under the emir, who would give out their hands to their respective suitors, at the same time.

“It’s our long tradition here that we still keep alive as a symbol of unity among us where all sons and daughters of the royal family would feel a sense of belonging by coming into this set of arrangement,” he said.

He, however, said the age long tradition was being expanded to accommodate other interested subjects and no longer restricted to those in the royal family.

“Hitherto we conducted the wedding among only royal families in the sense that a royal family member is only given out to another royal family member.

“But nowadays, the reverse is the case in most occasions as most of the children are being married by people of different strata, not necessarily a royal family member,” he noted.

He said even though the custom allows such union the elders never force the prospective couple into marriage against their wish.

“Even though we do it as a tradition but we make sure that no one is forced to marry somebody out of his or her wish. It is based on a strict understanding between the parents themselves and their children.

“But all the way, we are very happy to play the role of the father in-law of so many princesses. We would make sure we sustain the tradition,” he explained.