She wore a golden brown traditional outfit with blue pattern. The blue gele (headgear) spread about her head like the tail of a peacock. She kept waving her hands and dancing to and from the altar at the request of the officiating minister, Pastor Wale Adetuberu, at the Trinity Cathedral, Orital Obele, Akure, the Ondo State capital. Each time she smiled, her face revealed well-set teeth which accentuated her beauty. Beads adorned her wrists and neck.
She acknowledged dignitaries and fellow permanent secretaries in the Ekiti State Civil Service who attended the church service and the colourful reception at the her Awule mansion with smiles.
Many did not believe Princess Obaisi was 50 as she looked younger.
The tunes from the church choir kept drawing the celebrator and her husband, Bishop Daniel Obaisi, to the dance floor. They were occasionally joined by their children – Rereloluwa, Obaloluwa, Alaanuloluwa, Olubukunloluwa and Ajagunmoluloluwa.
Pastor Adetuberu, in his sermon, congratulated the couple for a successful marital journey, noting that not many had been equally successful. He encouraged mothers to mother their children rather than “murder them” through condemnable conducts.
Urging a ‘live and let live principle’, the pastor noted that the “value of the life of a man is the amount of good seeds sown in that of others”.
The reception was grand.
The shades of red and white that dominated the venue added colour to the event. The cake covered with a golden veil lent a tinge of elegance to the venue; it accentuated the class and high taste of the celebrator.
Guests had more than enough to eat and drink. The versatile Ekiti State cultural group enlivened the reception with various songs which often had the Princess and her husband on the dance floor.
Princess Obaisi recounted the difficulties her mum, now late, underwent bringing them up after the death of her father and the initial opposition to her proposal to marry Mr Obaisi. She also recounted the material hardship she went through at the early stages of her marriage, adding: “But, I thank God for this great day.”
Her husband, Bishop Obaisi, recalled the periods of courtship and the opposition from his wife’s mother and siblings, noting that the opposition was actually meant to protect Princess then as there was no way the family could have guessed the purity of his intention and purpose.
One thing which worked well for our marriage is that whenever we quarrelled over any issue, we ensured that we found a way to make amends within ourselves.
ExpressING his appreciation to Mrs. Obaisi for making Efon Alaaye, her roots, proud. The Alaaye of Efon-Ekiti kingdom, Oba Emanuel Aladejare, said each time he met Obaisi, she would ensure that she tried her best to ensure that he gets answers to her demands.
The Head of Service, Mr Olubunmi Famosaya, commended her courage and attainment. He mentioned her dedication to duty which he described as great, noting that whenever you give her any assignment you can go to bed.
Dignitaries at the service and the reception included the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ganiyu Owolabi; wife of the monarch of Ado-Ekiti, Olori Eyesorun Bosede Adejugbe; Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Ayodeji Daramola; Aare Kunle Olajide; Ekiti State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Welfare and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi and other commissioners in the state including, Dr Eniola Ajayi, Chief Ronke Okusanya and Mr Funminiyi Afuye.
Others included Chairperson, Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; Special Assistant in Governor’s Office, Mrs. Kehinde Daramola; Special Assistant to the Governor on Strategy, Mr Bisi Omoleye; Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chairman, Ekiti State, High Chief Jide Awe and his wife; Justice Toyin Abodunde; and Elder and Mrs. Segun Bankole.
Permanent secretaries in attendance included Dr. Bola Fakunle; Mr. Lekan Ayeleso; Mrs. Bimpe Aderiye; Mrs. Peju Babafemi; Mrs. Florence Oke; Mr Fred Ologuntoyo; Mrs. Funmi Ajayi; Mr Tayo Aluko; Mr Sesan Alabi; Mrs. Funke Falodun; Mrs Folake Olomojobi; Mr. Kola Ajumobi.
Church heads at the event included Bishop Felix Adejumo, Revd Kayode Aboderin; Revd Marylance Olaoye; Revd Tola Afuye; Revd Funmi Ojumu; Pastor Olusoji Bello among others.
