It’s been a long time since any wedding converged the crème de la crème of Bonny society including the traditional institution, political class, business community and then some, on the oldest cathedral in Nigeria, the St. Stephen’s Cathedral Church, Bonny.

But all and sundry gathered to witness the solemnization of holy matrimony between Anengi Barasua and Dagogo Wilcox.

Anengi Barasua, an insurance professional, financial services expert, entrepreneur, politician, Knight of the Anglican Communion, and gender rights advocate, who hails from Greens Iwoama, homestead of the Dublin Green Chieftaincy House of Bonny Kingdom, is the Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Dagogo Suoala Claude Wilcox, a retired soldier, public relations professional, diplomat and traditional head of the Wilcox Chieftaincy House and Se-Alabo (Country Chief) of Bonny Kingdom, who hails from Ayama Community, also known as Peterside Community, is the Chairman of Bonny Chiefs Council (BCC).

They were joined in marriage by the Dean of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Very Reverend Richard Hart, supported by Reverend Chimezie Ofomah, and Reverend Gabriel Barango.

In his sermon, Venerable Tamunotonye Bamson, quoting from 1 John 4: 7-16, posited that “Love isn’t conditional or situational,” stressing that marital love is sacrificing one’s self for another’s happiness and “finding one’s happiness in the happiness of the beloved”.

He further stressed that the point of marriage is not to love because the other is useful but to love unconditionally, pointing out that marital love is akin to the love of Christ for the Church, which he informed was predicated on a blood covenant thus making it unbreakable.

The reception was held at the Banquet Hall of the Nigeria LNG Residential Area, Finima, Bonny, where guests joined the apparently elated and ambient couple to revel in their day of joy.

In attendance were officials of the Bonny Local Government Council and Bonny Legislative Assembly, members of the Bonny Chiefs Council (BCC), Bonny Kingdom Titled Citizens Assembly (TCA), Bonny Women Forum (BWF), chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bonny LGA Chapter and other political parties, and Bonny Youth Federation (BYF).

Top management staff of the Nigeria LNG, and other multinationals, heads of security agencies in Bonny LGA, officials of various associations and trade unions in Bonny LGA, amongst several others.