IT was a gathering of governors, deputy governors, political leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, captains of industry and other dignitaries from across Nigeria in Asaba, the Delta State capital, on Saturday, August 29, at the wedding ceremony of Innocent, son of Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and Tobore, daughter of Brodericks Arigbodi.
The occasion had in attendance, Governors AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara); Hope Uzodimma (Imo); Mai Mala Buni (Yobe); Monday Okpebholo (Edo); Douye Diri (Bayelsa); Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa); Ahmed Usman Ododo (Kogi); Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo); Uba Sani (Kaduna); Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto); and Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger).
Also present were wives of the governors of Kwara: Kogi: Gombe; Taraba; Nasarawa; Cross River, Ekiti, Sokoto, Kaduna, Borno, Bauchi; Abia; Osun; Edo: and Imo states.
The ceremony was also witnessed by the Deputy Governors Monday Onyeme (Delta); Patricia Obila (Ebonyi); and that of Kano State; National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda; among other senior government officials and political leaders.
Other dignitaries at the occasion include Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo; former Delta State governors, James Ibori and Ifeanyi Okowa; Senators Joel-Onowakpo Thomas and Ede Dafinone; members of the National Assembly; Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa; Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor; former speakers of the Assembly; and the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.
Traditional rulers in attendance include the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Felix Mujakperuo (rtd.); Olu of Warri, HRM Atuwatse III; Dein of Agbor, HRM Keagborekuzi II; Chairman of Access Bank Plc, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc, Adaora Umeoji; UBA Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba; Managing Director of PremiumTrust Bank, Emmanuel Efe Emefienem; other captains of industry.
At the solemnisation of the marriage held at the Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel) on Ibusa Road, Asaba, the State Pastor, Shiyanbade Adekunle, charged the newlyweds to build their marriage on wisdom, sacrificial love, mutual respect and commitment.
Adekunle, in his sermon, described wisdom as the “working capital of marriage,” stressing that couples must rely on God and His Word to successfully navigate the different seasons of married life.
At the reception held at the Event Centre in the state capital, Sani, who chaired the event, congratulated the couple and their families on the union, describing the union as more than a celebration of love, saying it represented the coming together of two families, histories and destinies.
“It is with profound joy and a deep sense of privilege that I stand before you today as Chairman of this reception, celebrating a union that has brought together two families, two histories and two destinies in the sacred covenant of matrimony,” he said.
Sani said the occasion marked the fulfilment of parental hopes and beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the couple, who had chosen to walk through life together.
“May your home be a place of peace when the world is at war, a place of laughter when days are hard, and a place of prayer when challenges come,” he said.
He congratulated the couple and wished them a long, fruitful and beautiful marital journey.
