It was glitz and glamour as Governor Adams Oshiomhole of
Edo State, yesterday, exchanged marital vows with his
heartthrob, former Miss Iara Fortes, from Cape Verde.
The Governor and his bride had signed the dotted lines at a
private marriage registry attended only by family members
and a few friends at his Iyamho residence after which top
dignitaries in the country, were led by the President-elect,
General Muhammadu Buhari to the wedding reception held at
the People’s White Hall in the Governor’s country home.
Among a list of who-is-who in the country who also graced
the ceremony were President-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari,
his wife Aisha, Vice President Elect, Professor Yemi Osibanjo,
Speaker of the House of Reps, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Cross
Rivers State Governor, Liyel Imoke, Governor Emmanuel
Uduaghan of Delta State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Dr Samuel
Ogbemudia, Peter Obi, former head of state, Gen. Yakubu
Godwin, Alike Dangote, Captain Hosa Okunbor, Femi Otedola,
Chief Tom Ikimi, Gen. Charles Airiavbere, Engr.Chris
Ogiemwonyi, Saraki, Minority Whip of the House of Reps,
Samson Osagie, Pally Iriase and many other members of the
National Assembly.
Others are National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie
Oyegun, National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,
Governor Rauf Arigbesola, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, High Chief
Raymond Dokpesi, representative of Crown Prince of Benin,
Jim Ovia, President of a faction of the NLC, Ayuba Wahab,
Gen Tunde Ogbeha, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, former Governor of
Edo State, Prof Osarhiemen Osunbor, former Governor of
Anambra State, Dr Peter Obi, Senator Daisy Danjuma, Esogban
of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, Matthew
Iduoriyekemwen, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Governor-elect of
Kaduna State, Mallam el Rufai, Gov Godswill Akpabio of Akwa
Ibom State, Senator Chris Ngige,Kenneth Imuasuagbo among
others.
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The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, former
Governors Kayode Fayemi, Oserheimen Osunbor, Senator
Tunde Ogbeha; Osaigbovo Ogbemudia,Otunba Niyi Adebayo
were also in attendance.
Top military brass including Brigadier-General MJ Abel,
Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Electrical and
Mechanical Engineering, Auchi were also in attendance. The
Director-General of the State Security was represented by Engr
Joseph oworuya, while Mr Bello Bakori, Director, SSS Edo
State was also at the ceremony.
Members of the Edo state Executive Council were led by the
Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Pius Odubu, Chief Judge of
Edo state, elected members of the State and National
Assemblies and many others.
Parents of the bride, Mr and Mrs Fortes flew in from their
home in the Netherlands to attend the ceremony while the
Governor’s mother, Hajia Aishetu Oshiomhole was also in
attendance.
The Governor’s children Steve, Adams, Jane and two of his
grandchildren also on hand to show love and support for their
father and his wife.
The Governor’s marriage is coming about five years after the
painful death of his first wife, Clara Oshiomhole, following a
protracted battle with cancer.
The delectable Iara, a lawyer by profession and top model, is
from the Cape Verde Islands.
The chairman of the ceremony, General Yakubu Gowon said
the Governor’s wife completes and complements him and he
admonished the couple to show true love and have patience in
their dealings with one another.
Fielding question form newsmen, Oshiomhole who noted that
both PDP and APC leaders attended the wedding, said it
shows that despite political differences, Nigerians remains one.
He described his wife as very “ understanding, caring and a
loving lady and also expressed joy with his family for the
support given to him to remarry.
“This is something that one is happy about. I am also happy
that I have friends across all political divide. The occasion
reminds me that across all divides, we have friends and well-
wishers.”
Describing his wife, Oshiomhole said: “She is very humble, she
appreciates the nature of my job and life that I return home
late, some times 3am. She understands my weaknesses, she
is more or less the mother of the house, the one that has
accepted to be the mother of my children.
“I am happy that all my children are at home with her and
accept her as their mother even though she is not old enough
to be their mother. She has accepted to fill that gap” he said.
Nigerian incoming First Lady, Aisha Buhari made an interesting
comment. She described Oshiomhole’s wife as beautiful and
turning to her she said “but for you to marry a Nigerian, you
need to cook Edi-Kaikon, Egusi, and other Nigerian delicacies.
God bless the marriage and we know as First-lady you have a
big task and God will guide and protect the family”.