But for my promise last week that I will bring you titbits from the elaborate wedding of Faith Osakwe, President Goodluck Jonathan’s foster daughter, and Godswill Edwards, I would have dedicated this week’s edition entirely to victims of the bomb blast that occurred in my neighbourhood on Monday.
Since we encourage our leaders to keep their electoral promises, we can not do any less. So let me serve you with some highlights of the wedding.
The National Christian Centre, Abuja venue of the wedding service, was full to capacity on Saturday to the extent that the effect of the cooling system was hardly felt.
Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Bishop David Oyedepo of Winners’ Chapel, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh of the Anglican Communion and Cardinal John Onayeikan of the Abuja Archdiocese of the Catholic Church led the top clerics that officiated.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christians Pilgrims Board, Mr. John Kennedy-Okpara, was at his best carrying out the role of an unofficial chief usher. He had to go and usher Jonathan to and from the altar when he went to hand over the bride to the officiating minister.
When the officiating minister, Okoh, asked the congregation who gave the lady out as wife to the groom and the President said “I do,” the congregation responded with a loud applause as if they thought he had not made up his mind like he is making Nigerians to believe on his re-election bid. After handing over the bride to the officiating minister, Jonathan returned to the warm embrace of his wife, Patience, in a manner that suggested “You have done well, my darling.”
Unlike in most, if not all, wedding services, the parents of the bride and groom did not sit together during the service. The President and his wife sat on a raised platform designated for dignitaries inside the worship centre. They were joined in that section of the hall by President of the Senate, David Mark and his wife, Helen; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.) and his wife; former Head, Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih and an Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, among others.
The first time the parents of the bride and groom would meet and exchange pleasantries during the service was when the officiating minister invited them to come and bless the new couple. The President and his wife came from the dignitaries section while the groom’s parents approached the altar from where they were seated with the bridal train.
Kennedy-Okpara had exhausted the list of big men and women meant for recognition during introduction before his attention was called to the fact that he had not introduced the groom’s parents. He had to apologise before introducing them.
•The unique bride’s gown
Bride’s maids had a hectic time while handling the long tail attached to the bride’s gown. About four of them were specifically assigned to ensure that the tail was well laid out anytime the bride had to walk during the service.
•Obasanjo: Once a soldier….
Obasanjo arrived at the service at a time Adeboye was rounding off his sermon with a prayer. He was ushered into a seat beside Clark, one of his major critics. The former President managed to have a handshake with his “neighbour” and thereafter kept a straight face throughout the service.
Obasanjo, during whose tenure the worship centre was built was however not happy with those who are managing the building. Kenny-Okpara confirmed that Obasanjo, on arrival, called his attention to the dirty nature of the centre’s roof and called for a better maintenance culture.
•One-in-town reception
With the service over, action moved to the International Conference Centre where the wedding reception was held. Accessing the venue from any part of the FCT was an Herculean task with the kind of security measures put in place and the huge crowd that wanted to be part of it.
Apart from the main hall of the centre which was devoted to the very important personalities, sitting arrangements were made on the gallery, inside smaller halls and in the open space within the premises with large screens provided to be beaming events as they unfolded inside.
Before the arrival of guests, souvenirs packed inside blue paper bags had been placed beside each seat. Trust Nigerians, some of those who arrived early enough went round and picked gifts meant for about three guests. The situation led to altercations between some guests and the ushers when they discovered that while some people had at least three bags of souvenirs with them, several others did not have any. Don’t ask me if gold-plated iPhones were part of the souvenirs because I did not see any.
The manner in which some ladies flaunted their boobs could only be compared to the situation in the biblical Sodom and Gomorrah. The pathetic aspect of it was that some women old enough to be great grandmothers to the bride also joined in the fray. There was enough free show for men who do not fear God.
There was enough to eat and drink. The multi-steps cake was taller than the couple. I overheard a woman who was busy packing everything in sight saying that was the only way she could take her share of the national cake. A colleague later told me that he saw another lady who went to the extent of packing the decorative glasses on the table in her bag!
•Presidential dance step
One of the highlights of the reception was when the President stepped out for the “bridal farewell dance with dad.” Initially, he was cautious of the way he danced but when the bride started displaying her dancing skills, he could not but join.
Nigerian musician, D Banj, supplied the music. The President was in a hurry to leave the stage while the bride was more than ready to continue digging it out. In all, it was a good dance from Jonathan, away from the PDP rallies kind of dance.
•Bouquet torn into two
The throwing of bouquet by the bride was also very interesting. All the bride’s maids participated in the exercise. They were also joined by some other friends of the bride. They waited for the bride to throw the bouquet as they rolled their waists to Beyoncé’s song, “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).”
By the time she finally threw it, there was struggle among the single ladies leading to the tearing of the bouquet into two. I hope the two lucky ladies won’t share one husband the way they shared one bouquet.
•Fathers and mothers night
In the evening, the President and his wife again hosted some guests inside the Villa. The event was tagged “Fathers and mothers night.”
This time, the event was attended more by young people. There was an array of Nigerian musicians to brighten up the night. The First Lady took out time to dance “skelewu.”
The wedding was rounded off with a thanksgiving service on Sunday at the Aso Villa Chapel. What can I say than to wish the couple a happy married life.
by Olalekan Adetayo
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