It was quite a string of emotional moments as family and friends converged to witness the tying of nuptials by spokesman of Chairman of Bonny LGA in Rivers State, Boma Waribor and his heartthrob, former Miss Kate Emeka.

The solemnization of holy matrimony took place on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at First Love Assembly, Rukpokwu in Port Harcourt, while the traditional marriage took place same day at Ulakwor 2 in Etche LGA, both in Rivers State.   

Pastor James Abu, Branch Pastor of First Love Assembly, alongside his wife, and other clerics, conducted the wedding ceremony, and admonished the couple to get it right by mutually respecting each other and converging their aspirations under God’s precepts.

At Ulakwor 2 in Etche LGA, where ace stand-up comedian, Justice Jumbo, popularly known as MC JP, was the Master of Ceremony, marriage rites in accordance with Etche custom and tradition were performed after a brief opening prayer by the Senior Pastor of Revelation Ministry, Bonny, Pastor Caroline Benstowe.

Chairman of Bonny of Local Government Area, Dame Anengi Wilcox, who doubles as the groom, Boma Waribor’s boss, acknowledged God for the success of the ceremony, noting that marriage comes with divine favours, saying that marriage is an atmosphere for the expression of affection and mutual respect.

“I really want to appreciate God for a successful day like this, indeed, when the bible said he who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour in his sight, today is a proof that God is indeed happy with the ceremony”.

“Marriage is where love is shown, not spoken. When you love your wife, she will be the best thing that ever happens to you in life”.

Chairman of the occasion, Navy Capt. Williams Adedoyin admonished the couple to employ basic communal values of mutual respect, affection and responsibility in navigating the challenges that may come their way, urging them to stay close to God, asserting that the marital union is a lifelong one.

On his part, a former Director of Planning and Counselling in the Rivers State Agency for Adult Education, Eze Gift Elebedi urged the bride, Kate, to cherish and care for her husband, playfully reminding her not to give him “hypertension”, stressing that her role as a mother to Boma had officially begun, urging Boma to love Kate unconditionally.

Parents of the couple, Mr. & Mrs. Emeka Nwankwo, and Mr. & Mrs. Iderima Waribor were on hand to seal the merger between the Waribor Family of Oloma in Bonny LGA and Emeka Family of Ulakwor 2 in Etche LGA both in Rivers State consequent upon the marital union between their children.

Family, friends, colleagues and well-wishers joined the couple in their day of joy. These include the host LGA Chairman, Chief Obinna Anyanwu, PhD; his Omuma LGA counterpart, Rt. Hon. Christian Nwaiwu; members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Ignatius Onwuka, Etche Constituency 1, and Victor Oko-Jumbo, Bonny Constituency; a former Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paulinus Nsirim; and Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Stanley Job.

Others were the Woman Leader of Bonny Kingdom, Amaopuorubo Helen Pepple; Director General, Bonny Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Constance Nwokejiobi; the Councillor representing Ward 13 in the Obio/Akpor Legislative Assembly, Justina Lawrence-Wagwu; her counterpart representing Ward 10 in the Bonny Legislative Assembly, Kingsley Jumbo; Chief of Staff to Bonny LGA Chairman, Austin Pepple; and a former Leader of the Bonny Legislative Assembly, Adawari Jumbo; and Coordinator, National Orientation Agency, Iwarilama Brown.   

The couple’s colleagues from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Kristina Reports, United Bank for Africa, and Bonny Local Government Council were also present to felicitate with them.  

Guests also joined the couple as they danced to rhythmic music at various junctures of the event, while there was food and drinks enough for the guests.