Some guests that attended the wedding
between President Goodluck Jonathan’s
foster daughter, Inebharapu and her
husband, Simeon, on Saturday got more
than they bargained for when security
agents, who had difficulties controlling the
surging crowd, resorted to the use of
teargas.
Inebharapu is a daughter of the
President’s cousin.
Among the crowd that attended the
wedding were a large number of women,
who were conveyed to the venue in their
hundreds in long buses belonging to the
Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company.
Policemen, soldiers and officials of the
Department of State Security made frantic
efforts to push back some guests at the
main gate. When the situation became too
rowdy, they used tear gas to disperse the
agitated guests.
While scampering to safety, many people
sustained various degrees of injury.
A pregnant woman simply identified by her
relatives as Oby went into coma and was
quickly rushed into an ambulance
belonging to the Nigeria Security and Civil
Defence Corps.
When she could not be stabilised after
about 15 minutes, she was driven in an
ambulance marked CD 53 A to a hospital.
Good Samaritans helped to resuscitate
many other people by pouring water on
them.
Meanwhile, a former president, Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo, made a surprise
appearance at the church wedding.
Obasanjo and Jonathan have not been
seen together in public events lately,
especially since the public presentation of
his book, My Watch, which is critical of the
President.
The former President had on Monday said
Nigeria was facing economic problems due
to the failure of the present administration
to plan for the rainy day.
He told women leaders from the South-
West, who visited him at his Hilltop
residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State, that
the nation’s reserves which as of 2007
stood at $67bn had been depleted by the
Federal Government.
Obasanjo arrived the venue in company
with Dr. Andy Uba and some other aides
before the commencement of the service.
His arrival attracted a loud ovation from
those who were already seated, especially
women.
He was ushered into the hall and took his
seat at the VIP section.
He was later joined at the section by the
President of the Senate, David Mark, and
his wife.
About 20 minutes after, Jonathan entered
the hall with his wife, Patience, and the
bride.
The President and his wife took turns to
exchange pleasantries with Obasanjo, Mark
and other dignitaries before taking their
seats.
Obasanjo’s introduction during the service
also attracted a loud applause from the
congregation.
In his vote of thanks at the service,
Jonathan specially recognised Obasanjo’s
presence, saying, “Let me appreciate our
father, President Olusegun Obasanjo, for
being here with us. Thank you for
coming.”
The President urged the couple to embrace
the virtue of endurance, saying they
should learn to resolve their disagreements
in their bedroom.
He urged them not to bring their problems
to him because he has more than enough
issues to address.
In his sermon, the Primate of the Church
of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, The Most
Revd. Nicholas Okoh, noted that although
marriage as an institution was ordained by
God, it had been marked by problems from
the beginning.
Okoh urged the couple to keep the vow
they made before God in order to attract
divine blessings.
While describing jealousy as positive in
marriage, the clergyman said it was a
defensive mechanism God placed in
marriage to preserve it.
He stressed the need for forgiveness in
relationships, warning the couple against
keeping a diary of offences for each other.
He urged them to allow the love of God to
rule their home, instead of money.
“Money must not rule your marriage. Allow
the love of God to rule your home. Let God
have the final say, not money. Your
marriage should be based on scriptures
and not your certificates which are just
gifts from God,” he said.
Credit:

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