Former presidential aide Senator Florence Ita-Giwa has given out her daughter Kokoeka’s hand in marriage to Chimaobi, son of former Chairman of Continental Sales Ltd, the late Chief Shawcross Moore Obioha, in Lagos, reports TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO
•Ita-Giwa’s daughter marries
Former presidential aide Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, aka Mama Bakassi stopped at nothing to give her daughter, Kokoeka, a fairytale wedding. Lagos and Calabar, the Cross River State capital, hosted the three-legged event. The introduction and wedding were held in Lagos. The traditional rites were performed in Calabar.
The ceremonies were rounded off at the Methodist Church of the Trinity in Tinubu, Lagos, last Saturday when Koko, as the bride is fondly called, and her beau, Chimaobi Obioha, walked down the aisle.
Chimaobi is the son of the late Chief Shawcross Godwin Moore Obioha, former Chairman of Continental Sales Ltd.
He has a Masters degree in International Business from The Coventry University, England; Koko, also schooled in the United Kingdom where she has just completed her Masters degree.
The colourful engagement, which reflected the rich Calabar traditon, went without any hitch.
A distinguished Efik and former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke chaired the Calabar event. Efik and Igbo traditional performances kept the ceremony lively.
The couple were resplendent in traditional Efik marriage outfits.
Senator Ita-Giwa led her daughter into the church. Koko was in a stunning veiled white wedding gown.
Despite the late start of the ceremony, guests, friends and family members of the couple waited patiently.
Those who rushed to the Convention Centre of the Eko Hotel and Suites on Victoria Island, the reception venue, were not allowed into the hall until the end of the church service.
The reception did not start until some minutes past 8pm.
Guests marvelled at the decorations of the gigantic hall.
Highlife legend Sir Victor Olaiya and hip-hop artiste Innocent Idibia (a.k.a Tuface) entertained the large crowd.
The couple cut the cake few minutes past midnight.
They thrilled the gathering with scintillating dance steps amid music by Sir Olaiya and Tuface.
Senator Ita-Giwa thanked God and the guests for their support.
She enjoined the couple to believe in God in everything they do.
“They should hold on to their God and have a successful marriage. They should live a good life and trust each other. They should believe in each other and always have the presence of God in their union,” she said.
The groom’s mother, Mrs Evelyn Obioha, who is from Abraka in Delta State, was excited.
“I have always been in support of their relationship. Koko is a good girl and would make a good wife for my son. I am happy we are marrying into her family. Intertribal marriage fosters unity and I am happy my son is marrying into an Efik family,” she said.
Koko was grateful to God for making the day a success.
She said she was attracted to Chimaobi because he is God fearing.
“I feel that any man that is God fearing comes with a lot of other positive attributes that would complement him. When you are God fearing you are focused. When you are God fearing, you will know that whatever challenges you face, you will come out victorious and successful. We work together as a team. He is my brother and best friend. He is my confidant,” she said.
On how they met, she said: “We met on my birthday. I went out for lunch and he happened to be in the same place and that is how it started.”
Chimaobi described Koko as beautiful, down to earth, understanding, intelligent and hardworking.
“I am excited about today because we looked forward to it for a long time. And God has answered our prayers and we are very happy,” he said.
In attendance were Minister of Culture and Tourism Chief Edem Duke; former Senate President Ken Nnamani; former Ogun State governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba; his Jigawa, Ekiti and Cross River counterparts Senator Saminu Turaki; Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Donald Duke and wife Onari; wife of Ogun State governor Mrs Olufunso Amosun; President, Dangote Group of Companies Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Chairman, HoneyWell Groups Oba Otudeko; Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Segun Awolowo; former Commerce and Industry Minister Mrs Nike Akande; Senator Annie Okonkwo; Asoju Oba of Lagos Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas; former Aviation Minister Mrs Kema Chikwe; Lagos socialite Hajia Abba Folawiyo; monarchs – Dr Etim Okon Edet and Etubong Bassey; Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe; Arthur Nwandu; Ogbuagu Emeka Okwwuosa; Prince Walter Eze; Mrs Bola Shagaya; Chief Sam Iwuagwu; former Chief Of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Oghiadome; Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu; Paramount Ruler of Bakassi Dr Etim Okon Edet; traditional ruler of Abraka, Air Vice Marshal Lucky Ararile Ovie; traditional ruler of Arondizogu in Imo State Eze Cosmas Kanu; Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba; Senator Bassey Out; former governorship aspirant in Delta State Chief Great Ogboru; Hon Daniel Asuquo; Onyeka Onwenu; Encomium Publisher Chief Olakunle Bakare; Managing Director, Duro Soleye Medical Centre Dr Tunde Soleye; Chief Akin Ariyo; Chairman and Chisco Group of Companies Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, among others.
