The President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, governors and several top dignitaries , yesterday trooped out to honour Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, as he said ‘I do’ to former Miss Iara Fortes, five years after losing wife, Clara, to breast cancer.
The wedding, which was previously scheduled to hold at the Auchi Marriage Registry, was shifted to the country home residence of Governor Oshiomhole.
Few friends and family members witnessed the joining together of the couple.
Oshiomhole, who was dressed in a black suit, decked with bow tie, announced that his new wife “is the mother of the house”.
Iara, a lawyer and top model, hails from the Cape Verde Islands.
The couple stepped out at about 12:20pm to the Peoples’ Hall venue of the reception for the wedding.
Commercial motor-cyclists, popularly called Okada, made brisk business as they upped their fares from N200 to between N300 and N500 to take guests from Auchi to Iyamho village, Oshiomhole’s hometown.
The wedding caused heavy vehicular traffic along the Benin-Auchi express road owing to the dignitaries that graced the wedding.
Top dignitaries that graced the occasion included the President-elect, Mohammadu Buhari and his wife, Aisha Buhari; Vice President elect, Yemi Osibanjo; Governor-elect of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai; National Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State; Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu and his wife, Endurance; former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi; former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon; Speaker Aminu Tambuwal; former Minister of External Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi; Hon Pally Iriase and Hon Samson Osagie.
Others are the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Governors and Governors-elect from across the country, Senators Bukola Saraki, Domingo Obende, Chris Ngige and many other dignitaries.
Captains of Industries, who were led by to the ceremony by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, included Mr Jim Ovia, Femi Otedola, Captain Noggie Meggisson and Captain Hosa Okunbor among others.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, former Governors Kayode Fayemi, Oserheimen Osunbor, Senator Tunde Ogbeha; Osaigbovo Ogbemudia and Otunba Niyi Adebayo were also in attendance.
Top military brass, including Brigadier-General MJ Abel, Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Auchi, the Director-General of the State Security, represented by Engr Joseph Oworuya, Mr Bello Bakori and the Director, SSS, Edo State, were also at the ceremony.
Royal fathers were not left out, as they attended the ceremony in their numbers.
The Oba of Benin was represented by high ranking palace chiefs, which included Chief David Edebiri, the Esogban of Benin Kingdom.
Oshiomhole described his new wife as very humble.
He said: “This is something that one is happy about. One is also happy that I have people across all political divides. The occasion reminds me that across all divides, we have friends and well wishers.”
“She is very humble, she appreciates the nature of my work and life. She understands that one comes back home late, sometimes at 3 am. She understands my weaknesses, and she is moreorless the mother of the house, the one that has accepted to be the mother of my children. I am happy that all my children are at home with her and accept her as their mother. Even though she is not old enough to be their mother, she has accepted to fill that gap.
“I have seen a lot of publications, some saying she is Filipino, Dutch and others. But she is from Cape Verde, which is part of West Africa and I hope that put to rest where she is from.”
Aisha Buhari in her speech, prayed for God’s guidance as “she becomes a Nigerian”
Chairman of the occasion, Gowon described the day as a special one and urged the couple to live as one.
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