The people of Aboatulu kindred,Avomimi village in Enugwu-Ukwu Community, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra was excited as one of their daughters was given out in traditional marriage to Chief Chijioke Iloegbunam.
It was more of festival for merry making than traditional wedding when the Eze Ndigbo in China, Iloegbunam, who hails from Abatete, Idemili North Local Government Area, visited the community for the traditional marriage of the only child of Mr Simon Okoye family of Aboatulu kindred of Enugwu-Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area, both in Anambra State.
Chijioke Iloegbunam thanked God for giving him the woman of his life, now Dr. (Mrs.)Victoria Ogechukwu Iloegbunam née Okoye.
He expressed satisfaction with the large turn out of in-laws, Friends and well wishers.
Expressing satisfaction also, the wife, said that, " God has given me my heart desire, I prayed for it and He answered my prayer.
"He is kind hearted, lovely and understands and these qualities were what attracted me to him.
"I need peace in my life," she said.
Also sister to the groom, Mrs. Nneka Nwaneli, who based in Lagos, stated that the groom is the last child of the family, based in China, a businessman but now has relocated to Nigeria, but would soon relinquish his office as Eze Ndigbo in China.
According to her, Chijioke because of the love of sibling and strong ties he has for the family, he did not marry a white lady having lived most of his life outside the country which he visited every three months from China and upheld the tradition of Think Home philosophy both in personal and business life he came home to pick a wife of his youth.
" I pray for God's love on the family, I pray God to bless their heart desires, I see our in-laws as very hospitable family and we will not be in-laws only but like brothers and sisters," she assured.
Mr Innocent Okoye uncle to the bride, said, "It is my brother's daughter that is getting married today,
"I advise the couple that marriage is light and hard, but it needs patients, it is sweet and sour, not that too sweet or sour, patience is the key, as time goes up, it changes to sweet or sour, depending on how you handle it, they have to settle their quarrels within themselves but can invite the third person, a very closed person because there are friends who are real than brothers and sisters.
"Some have committed suicide because of their inability to bring in the third person, some are dying in silence instead of complaining to the third person.
"Longitivity is from God, don't live competative life, with this you can live long," he advised.
Prof. Odikpo Ntukogu, uncle to the groom, prayed God to give them children and live to old age, even as he urged them to respect and love each for longitivity.
Father of the bride, Chief Simon Okoye, advised them to have understanding stating that marriage is seeet but sometimes bitter, adding, " I pray for God to bless them and give them wisdom to control their marriage, I see my son- in-law as a good man," he noted.
Mrs Tina Okoye, mother of the bride said that the marriage is a prayer answered.
She said that the girl is her only child and pray that the love she sees in two of them would last till death separates them.
"My prayer is that marriage ingredient will be abundant in their home which is LOVE,PEACE,AND UNITY,",
Mazi Christian Mbachi, Secretary to Aboatulu kindred, added that, "We are overwhelmed, there is clement whether, they will live long, I see our in-laws are happy. I pray God to give them long life, peace and love.
"I advise the young couple to avoid crises, it cause divorce on young couples, at the long run,
"I pray they understands themselves much better now that marriage is contracted because some couples of this generation don't have patience, to run their homes as married people.
He said that courtship is over that marriage is a serious business and unending institution that has no particular formular,they should devise their method and ignore earthly things, or comparison with other persons marriage.
Mbachi urged them to adhere to direction in the Holy Bible as recorded that marriage is an honourable business where two becomes one till death fo them part.
He advised them to consult the commandments of God as Christians to always seek the face of God," he advised.
A US based cousin to the groom, Chidolue David Ntukogu, disclosed that, " Mother to the groom is my father's younger sister, and I advise the couple not to listen to outsiders, to settle their matters by themselves, love doesn't know any profession, love has no boundaries.I pray that they will understand each other, even if they have misunderstanding, let them find a way to make up," he posited.
Chuks Iloegbunam retired journalist, advised that, ""They should observe the rules of marriage, I have being in marriage for 40 years, the rules of marriage is to love. Don't cheat in marriage, keep to your responsibility, pay children's school fees, take the sick to the hospital, fear God, it is for rich and in poor, if you have problem, live with it, dont abandom him/her. if you are alive, you have to face difficulties.pray for love long life. Marriage is marriage, you can marry from Jupiter," maintained.
Razor reports that traditional marriage ritual was all observed with the women, Girls youths and men of the kindred well cared for.
Also the traditional visit exchange by in laws was done to cement the relationship between the okoye and Iloegbunam family as one big family.
Pics show the couple dancing and making merry during the traditional wedding.