Asaba, the Delta State capital, witnessed a major gathering of Nigeria’s political, traditional, business and religious elite on Saturday as Innocent Oborevwori, son of Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, married his heartthrob, Tobore Arigbodi, daughter of Chief Brodericks Arigbodi.
The high-profile wedding attracted an array of serving and former governors, senior government officials, National Assembly members, political leaders, traditional rulers, captains of industry and religious leaders from across the country.
The impressive turnout underscored the significance of the occasion, with the political class represented across party lines.
Among the governors at the ceremony were AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, Monday Okpebholo of Edo, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa, Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo, Uba Sani of Kaduna, Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto and Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State.
First Ladies from several states, including Kwara, Kogi, Gombe, Taraba, Nasarawa, Cross River, Ekiti, Sokoto, Kaduna, Borno, Bauchi, Abia, Osun, Edo and Imo, also joined the celebrations.
Delta’s political leadership was equally well represented by the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, while the Deputy Governors of Ebonyi and Kano states, Patricia Obila and her Kano counterpart, were also in attendance.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, was among the leading political figures who graced the occasion.
Also present were Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Chief Festus Keyamo; former Delta governors, Chief James Ibori and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas; Senator Ede Dafinone; Minister of State for Health, Dr Tunji Alausa; Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor; former Speakers of the Assembly; APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka; and several members of the National Assembly.
The traditional institution added colour and prestige to the ceremony, with the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Major General Felix Mujakperuo (retd.); the Olu of Warri, HRM Atuwatse III; the Dein of Agbor, HRM Keagborekuzi II; and other prominent monarchs in attendance.
The corporate community was also strongly represented by Chairman of Access Bank Plc, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr Adaora Umeoji; UBA Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba; Managing Director of PremiumTrust Bank, Emmanuel Efe Emefienem; and other leading business executives.
The marriage was solemnised at Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel), Ibusa Road, Asaba, where the State Pastor, Pastor Shiyanbade Adekunle, charged the couple to lay a solid foundation for their marriage based on wisdom, love, mutual respect and unwavering commitment.
Adekunle described wisdom as the “working capital of marriage”, urging the couple to make God and His Word the cornerstone of their relationship as they navigate the different seasons of married life.
The celebration later moved to the Event Centre, Asaba, for the reception, where Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State served as chairman.
Congratulating the couple and their families, Sani described the occasion as more than a celebration of love, saying it symbolised the union 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 beautiful reception, celebrating a union that has brought together two families, two histories and two destinies in the sacred covenant of matrimony,” he said.
The Kaduna governor said the wedding represented the fulfilment of parental hopes and the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the couple, who had chosen to walk through life together.
He prayed that their home would remain a place of peace, joy and prayer, particularly in times of difficulty.
“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,” Sani said.
