In what could be described as a royal wedding of cultures, Nigerians from different walks of life gathered at Igoba community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State for the traditional marriage of Eze Enyinnaya Williams and Omowumi.
It was a regal ceremony as Eze Williams, a renowned engineer, was recently selected as the traditional ruler of Oha-Osieke ancient Kingdom in Abia State.
The wife of the royal father, Omowumi, a nurse trained in London and the Eze had been joined in holy matrimony in England, 14 years ago, but they needed to be traditionally certified and celebrated in the bride’s home community.
The Saturday traditional ratification of their marriage is a prelude to the crowning of Eze Williams as the traditional ruler of Oha-Osieke, an ancient kingdom in Ugwunagbo Local Government Area of Abia State.
Eze Williams and Omowumi Williams will be crowned as Ohazurume the 1st and Ugoeze of Oha-Osieke kingdom.
Speaking at the marriage ceremony, a former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Ambassador Omolade Oluwateru, described the union as incomparable.
According to him, “It is a day that the Lord has made and it is marvellous in our sight. The husband and wife are from Abia and Ondo states, making it a unique combination.
“In my own family, I have such cross-culture marriages. I have three daughters married to people from the eastern states.
“My prayer is that they will live happily and enjoy the fruits of their marriage. I encourage people to marry from any part of the country as long as they are united by love.
“I pray that they should live in peace and be shielded by God Almighty.”
The former Nigerian Ambassador to Uganda wished the couple a fruitful marriage and enjoined them to respect all traditional and Christian matrimonial rites to raise a happy and blissful family that would sustain a royal legacy.
The father of the bride, Pastor Michael Ajayi, said that it was a remarkable day which will not be forgotten in a hurry,
He stated that “because our children that married overseas have come home to give us our traditional rights by paying the dowry. The dowry is a debt every suitor owes the family of the bride.
“In the presence of my family, kinsmen, friends, and my in-laws from Abia State, I give out my lovely daughter, Omowumi, to her heartthrob after all traditional rites had been met and certified in line with the customs of the Igoba community.”
The groom, Eze Williams, said that the traditional marriage ceremony was one of the happiest days in his life.
He remarked: “I am very happy and grateful to God Almighty for making it possible for today to come to fulfillment.
“This traditional marriage has brought people from different cultures and different parts of Nigeria together. It has shown that as Nigerians, we can live in harmony as one people.
“Marriage is all about being patient and tolerant because no one is perfect. We live by the grace of God and inter-cultural marriages like this one helps to strengthen the unity of this country.”
The bride, Ugobueze Omowumi Williams, described the traditional marriage ceremony as fantastic, adding that the feeling and joy were indescribable.
She affirmed that tolerance is king in any marriage, noting that wives must realise that their husbands are the heads of the family.
The President of Oha-Osieke Women Association, Mrs. Felecia Emmanuel, said that women from Ugwunagbo, Oha-Osieke community came to rejoice with their royal father at his traditional marriage.
In her words: “We are happy to be associated with the couple, Eze Ohazurume I and his lovely wife. We will guide and direct our wife so that she will live in peace with her husband and enjoy her marriage.”
Dignitaries who graced the occasion included the former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Ambassador Omolade Oluwateru; traditional rulers from Yoruba land and Abia State.
There were a host of traditional rulers, including the Nso 1 of Mbaso Amasaa, His Royal Majesty Eze Chris Ajuzie, the Eri Miri, the second, His Royal Highness Eze Bright Ibezim.
Also in attendance were respected personalities from government and business circles, including Chief Eze Akoma, Prime Minister of Oha-Osieke, Chief Jacob Aguomba, executive Secretary of Oha-Osieke Council and representatives of the Akparanta and Otuka families from the greater Akwete House of the Ndoki Clan, South East of Abia State.
