ONITSHA — Former Military governor of old Anambra State, Col. Robert
Akonobi (rtd), has pleaded with Igbo parents to reduce the bride price
of their daughters so that ‘’our young boys can marry them.” ‘’To me,
this topic (bride price) has been dealth with in the past by Ndigbo, who
came out with a reduced bride price, to enable our young boys marry our
young girls,” Akonobi said.
Akonobi also cautioned that men
should study their proposed wives closely and longer before engaging
into marriage because “once you marry, no one else can put it asunder.”
He spoke at the industrial city of Nnewi, Anambra State during the
traditional wedding ceremony of the daughter of a business mogul, Chief
Louis Onwugbenu, Onyinye and her husband, Bosah Chukwuogo, weekend.
Nnewi
was agog as dignitaries from all works of life trooped to the residence
of Chief Onwugbenu for the memorable event. The dignitaries who were
from both the military, political and manufacturing circles, including
Col Akonobi, Hon. Clement Nwankwu, former member of the House of
Representatives; Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of Gabros
International Limited and Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Limited, Chief
Gabriel and Innocent Chukwuma respectively, among others.
The
issue of high bride price was discussed extensively on the occasion.
Hon. Nwankwu, in his own speech, prayed that Chief Onwugbenu and his
wife would live long to enjoy the fruits of their children, especially
those who married from outside their areas.
Also, speaking, Mrs.
Onwugbenu expressed gratitude that her daughter’s hand was given out in
marriage and prayed that her in-laws who came all the way from Awka to
marry her daughter, would go back home safely. Father of the bride,
Onwugbenu, in his own speech, said he had already blessed his daughter
and her husband to go and make a good home.
On the bride price
controversy in Igbo land, Onwugbenu declared: “We do not charge money as
bride price for someone to marry my daughter. To me, what is important
is that my daughter should live in peace with her husband. Let her
husband’s family members accept her as part and parcel of their family.”
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