Former President Olusegun Obasanjo joined other dignitaries to grace the church wedding of President Goodluck Jonathan’s foster daughter, Inebharapu and her husband Simeon, at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, yesterday.
Obasanjo arrived in the venue with Dr. Andy Uba and some other aides before the commencement of the service. He was ushered into the hall amidst standing ovation and took his seat at the VIP section. A loud applause from the congregation also greeted his introduction during the service.
In his admonition on the occasion, President Jonathan advised the couple to learn to solve their marital problems themselves without involving a third party, including their parents. He further urged the couple to embrace the virtue of endurance, adding that they should not bring their problems to him, as he already had enough on his hands to handle.
The President, in his vote of thanks at the service, recognised the presence of Obasanjo.
Delivering his sermon, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Revd. Nicholas Okoh, noted that although marriage as an institution was ordained by God, it had been having problems from the beginning with Adam and Eve.
He urged the couple to keep the vow they made before God so that they can attract the blessings therein to themselves. Okoh urged them to always forgive each other no matter what, warning against keeping diary of offences for each other.
The cleric though noted the importance of money in marriage, he stressed that the bride and groom were not joined together as business partners.
Okoh also used the occasion to again kick against same-sex marriage which he described as sinful, artificial and shameful. “We encourage young people to reject that new introduction of young men marrying men or women marrying women,” he said.
Speaking at the reception held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), the Chairman, Senate President, David Mark, who represented Vice President Namadi Sambo urged the couple to properly define each other’s roles in the home so as to avoid conflict.
“Any man whose marriage is successful today, it is because the husband has allowed the wife to take the minor decision in the house and he the major decision. If there is a football match in the house, if your husband’s team is losing and your team is winning and your husband is boasting that his team will win, encourage and support him, that is a major decision.”
Frank Edogho of ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire” and Helen Paul, a presenter of Jara on African Magic, were on hand to entertain the guests at the reception. Music was supplied by Kola Sax, popular international gospel artiste, Ron Konely did a special love song entitled: “You are my everything.”
Prominent among dignitaries who attended the service were: the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; Governor Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Governor Jonah Jang (Plateau); Governor Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Governor Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Governor Gabriel Suswam (Benue); former Governor Peter Odili; and Chief Edwin Clark.
Eminent men of God such as Pastor Enoch Adeboye; Bishop David Oyedepo, Archbishop Sam Amanga, and Pastor Paul Adefarasi, were also present at the occasion.
