By Barr Jeniffer Oko
The 26th day of November 2022 has come to be marked as a very significant day in the lives of two love birds of Benue State extraction, former Miss Felicia Adikwu and Mr Edward Enumari Onaji as it was the day the two were joined in permanent conjugal unity in a wedding ceremony at St John’s Catholic Church, Mararaba, Abuja. According to Wind Sound Africa’s quiet findings, the day also offered a majority of the dignitaries who attended the event from all over Nigeria to quietly determine and plan on how to bring about a convergence of minds on the urgent need to arrive at the system and means to collectively rise above the prevailing situation of disunity in the homeland Owukpa and across Nigeria at the approach of the 2023 general election. In deed the wedding event, according to those who spoke to us on conditions of anonymity, achieved a double-aged success of uniting the newly wedded couple on the plane of holy matrimony while also laying the foundation for a highly desirous home land unity.
The Presiding Priest during his homily identified the nexus between the continuous learning process prevalent in a matrimonial institution and a conventional university where one student must not assume that the other knew everything and therefore was not entitled to make mistakes. He urged the couple to adopt the attitude of rising above their problems by sharing them through effective communications between themselves as against running to outsiders for solutions that would not sustain. He urged them to learn all the ropes that would empower them to remain united as they grow together and build their homes because, unlike the university, they were not bound to graduate from the marital institution and he was going to issue them their certificate of permanent unity at the end of the ceremony.
At the reception event after the wedding at Gojuda Hotels facilities and graced by a mammoth turn out of well wishers from all walks of lives and histories of relationships nurtured over the years by the parents of the bride and bridegroom as well as their siblings, the Chairman of the ceremony, Ambassador Godwin Agama[rtd], took a similar route with the Priest in his advice to the couple. He told them that self respect, unbridgeable respect for one another hinged on the pillars of the culture that begat both of them even in the face of fast moving modernity is the hallmark of a peaceful home. He prayed to God to bless the couple and expressed his high hopes for a peaceful home for them. The retired ambassador thanked all visitors who had travelled from long distances to attend the event, praying to God to grant all of them journey mercies back to their homes at the end of the occasion.
Welcome Speech at the event.
Key dignitaries of Owukpa extraction present at the event besides the Ambassador included Community Leaders such as retired Curstoms officer Odejor Matthias Abutu, General Francis Amuuche, Comptroller Michael Agbara, Hon Friday Damusa, Prof Ameh O, Arch Tony Obekpa, Wing Commander Emmanuel Onyeke and Mr Emmanuel Adoyi Onu. Other Owukpa kingpins in attendance were Prince Joe Agbara, a retired CBN Director, Asst Comptoller Ray Okpeh, Dr.Emmanuel Onoja of Fedpoly Zamfara, Editor-in-Chief and publisher of Wind-Sound Africa Mr. Matthew Abah , Hon Otobo of Afripost Newspaper, Chief Patrick Oji, Mr Ray Oko of Nigeria Minting & Printing, Engr Augustine Okpe, Dr. Innocent Onaji of University of Jos, Engr Innocent Akor, Barr Okpe S, Dsp Jerome Ameh and a US based medical practitioner, Dr. Joe Onah amongst many other compatriots too many to mention.
Other non Owukpa dignitaries who graced the event or were noticeably represented included Prof Innocent Ujah Mni, OON. Vice Chancellor Federal University Of Health Sciences Otukpo {FUSHO}, Benue State, who was represented by his wife Mrs Francisca Ujah, Mr John Ochigbo, a Director of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mr. Fidelise Ode, retired Director of the Surveyor General’s Office, Chief Mgbemhur Chukwu, Husseini Andrew and representatives of the bride’s father’s professional body from Jos who made a hefty presentation to the couple on behalf of organization.
The high number of youths that graced the wedding ceremony and the infecting exuberance they exhibited even at moments of fleeting challenges were said to be traceable to the kind of unassailable relationship the newly weeded couple and their siblings have maintained with far-flung family friends, former school mates and other social circles over the years. The Men In Brown circle of special friends of the couple noticeably bent backwards to add colors to the event and even as none of them made any special statement, it was evident that the couple of the day had individually and collectively impressed their peer groups through their life styles and reputations in the past. The couple are said to symbolize icons of youth liberation in the making.
