Anger as governors choose Malami son's wedding over burial of army chief

As the burial of General Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff, and 10 others who died in a plane crash got underway in Abuja, many governors converged on Kano for the wedding of one the sons of Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

This triggered different reactions from Nigerians who felt the top military officers who died in active line of duty did not get the kind of respect they deserve.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo were conspicuously absent at the burial which was attended by Senate President Ahmad Lawan.

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After the plane crash of Friday, Malami issued a statement, saying he had cut short his son’s wedding.

But it was pomp and pageantry in Kano when Abiru Rahman Malami, second son of the minister, got married at Alfurqan Juma’at mosque in the Kano metropolis.

Among the governors who attended the wedding were Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano) and Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi).

THE WEDDING

ANGER ON SOCIAL MEDIA

The smooth running of the event, which was devoid of the national mourning, generated backlash on social media as seen in some of these tweets.

While the nation mourns the death of COAS and other military officers, some Northern Governors and friends of the AGF, Malami gathered in Kano to celebrate his son's wedding. pic.twitter.com/bHgnZouIzl
— Maybeks (@Maybeks) May 22, 2021

If it is true that at the time Nigeria is going through a national tragedy of loosing our revered hero, General Attahiru, but some Northern Governors are busy celebrating a wedding ceremony of a Attorney General/Justice Minister’s son, in Nigeria, then this is a double tragedy. pic.twitter.com/c0s4XJsi12
— Adamu Garba II (@adamugarba) May 22, 2021

This is very true… Malami's second son wedding… So unfortunate
— Wazirchi 🇳🇬💫 (@Abdul_Inga) May 22, 2021

Governor Inuwa Yahaya Attends Malami's Son's Wedding
Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State earlier today joined his counterparts and other dignitaries at the wedding fatiha of son of the Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice,Abubakar Malami, SAN in Kano. pic.twitter.com/PHMJW6N0Qd
— Rabi'u B Goro (@Rabiu_Goro) May 22, 2021

While Nigeria is busy burying our hero's, this Governors are merrily cracking jokes at the wedding of Attorney General Malami's Son.
We knew they have no heart… Now here is confirmation they have no soul either!
And to think our poor are blindly cheering these fools! pic.twitter.com/dQZCH3L7ty
— Dr. Bukar Tijjani, DVM (@BukarAbbah) May 22, 2021

I watched it live I heard them saying Mr president did he cm in person or sent delegation as usual? Most of the Governors & ministers were at Kano for the wedding if Attorney General son Malami.
— C H A N G E S🔥🛑 (@Itz_Changezz) May 22, 2021

So, Buhari didn't honour the corpses of our Gallant men. 🤔💔💔💔🇳🇬
— عبدالملك عبدلله (@AbdooullSG) May 22, 2021

No single respect for their @HQNigerianArmy that's keeping Nigeria one for them👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
PHOTOS: Amidst national grief, Nigerian governors, ministers, lawmakers attend Malami son’s wedding https://t.co/TkgRmUxTj3
— EasterN RacE (@RaceEastern) May 22, 2021

The military is the reason we can have election in the North that brought these idiots to power. Today, they couldn't attend the COAS funeral but gathered for the 21 years old Malami son's wedding. These are the people y'all voted. I don't know what to call yall! pic.twitter.com/SD6cO7NXGG
— FS Yusuf (@FS_Yusuf_) May 22, 2021

“There is something called national mood,”
1st frame : Wike holds political rally while Nigeria mourns late military chief, others.
2nd Frame: Amidst national grief, Nigerian governors, ministers, lawmakers attend Malami son's wedding.
Credit: @PremiumTimesng pic.twitter.com/RrnaL8b7uZ
— Kwankwason Tuwita🔴 (@babarh_) May 22, 2021

In 2016 Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, was killed. Putin attended his burial. In 2018 terrorists killed French Policeman, Arnaud Beltrame.Macron attended his burial. In Nigeria, we lost our Army chief, and @OfficialAPCNg Governors had a party in Kano!#TableShaker pic.twitter.com/bAazH5WK1z
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) May 22, 2021

THE BURIAL

However, some top government officials honoured the deceased officers with their presence.

Among them were Governors Babagana Zulum (Borno), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Mai Mala Buni (Yobe).

Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed; Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi; and Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari were also there.

While Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor and Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo, Acting IGP, Usman Baba, also attended the ceremony.