Taraba’s damsel weds Delta’s gent in holy matrimony
“Clergy admonishes couple to keep their marriages alive”
OKERAFOR ATHANATIUS, JALINGO.
Newly wedded couples across the country have been admonished to always use God as a source to keep their marriages alive.
Taraba State Overseer, Higher Grace International Church, Rev. (Dr.) Victor Falack gave the admonition while speaking as the Guest speaker on the occasion of a wedding solemnization between Mercy Isaiah Jando and Evans Akpovawerhe Idjesa at a ceremony held weekend at the auditorium of the Royal Priesthood Assembly in Jalingo the State capital.
Dr. Falack, who spoke on the topic, “What you need to do to keep your marriage alive”, said God is the source of marriages and the source of every home.
He added that as long as God’s position is respected and recognized in every marriage and home, such an institution must be alive.
Dr Victor Falack
Quoting from the book of Proverbs 26:20-21 where the Bible talks about the burning woods, the clergy posited that if the wood is taken away from the fire, the fire will go off.
“That simply teaches us a lesson that what keeps the fire burning is not the flame but a source (wood)”, meaning that for a couple to be relevant, and alive, they must continually keep the source alive and that source is God”, he said.
Emphasizing that both husband and wife have a responsibility to keep their marriage alive, Dr. Falack charged the man to always love, provide for the home, be spiritually alert with prayer, and the word of God while the woman should respect and submit to the man.
“In doing the above stated, their marriage must be sweet and remain alive”,.
Speaking in an interview, the General Overseer (GO), Royal Priesthood Assembly, Jalingo Bishop Isaac Philip who doubled as the officiating Minister, charged the couple to always respect, love and confess their shortcomings to one another. “Just say sorry to your partner”, he said.
Bishop Isaac Philip
Bishop Philip further explained that the couple are from two different states of Taraba and Delta.
“The bride is Kaka by tribe from the Mambilla Plateau of Sardauna LGA of the State while the groom is Urhobo by tribe, Niger Delta of Ugheli North LGA of Delta State”.
The Bishop added that marriages and/or weddings between two different states and tribes should be encouraged, describing such as wonderful and awesome.
He added that such a union brings about unity. “You are Urhobo, Kaka, Hausa, Ibo or Yoruba don’t matter, because the blood of Jesus binds all together”, he said.
Also in an interview, the father of the groom, Comrade Chris Avberhota Idjesa, dressed in a cultural regalia (Urhobo traditional outfit) to be specific, expressed happiness celebrating his son’s wedding.
His words, “Today is a very joyful day that my son came all the way from Urhobo land in Delta State to marry a lady from Kaka in the Mambilla Plateau of Taraba State”,
“We are here celebrating and rejoicing with the couple, from church wedding to the reception ground. We fulfilled the bride price yesterday during the traditional Marriage”,
“Infact, if we come out in this attire, it signifies that there is a ceremony taking place”,
“When my son told me that he has seen a lady to marry, somebody from Taraba State, I told him to bring her to the house. And as she was with us, before we could get up from sleep, this lady had swept and kept everywhere clean”,
“Let God keep them together as we have witnessed and bless them”, he said.
Comrade Jawali Mohammed, a friend to the family, from Adamawa State and a NEC member of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), encouraged inter-state, inter-tribal and inter-religious marriages.
“Inter-state, inter-tribal and inter-religious marriages can promote love, unity and peaceful coexistence in our dear country Nigeria”,
“This lady went for NYSC in Delta State to serve her fatherland and from there, she saw her husband”,
“Both of them have become ambassadors of their people and united with love”, he said.
The groom, Evans Akpovawerhe Idjesa was full of gratitude to the Taraba people for the level of cooperation and support, State Government for the enabling environment, his in-laws from the Mambilla Plateau and others too numerous to mention.
“My name is Mr. Evans Idjesa from Delta State, today is our wedding day, long awaited. You can see that we are overwhelmed with joy”,
“What brought me to Taraba was a beautiful flower, I told myself that I am not going to leave without plucking the flower and today, by the mercies of God, I have successfully plucked the flower”,
“I am going back to my beautiful Delta State with a big heart, with our new beautiful flower to beautify our wonderful State of Delta”,
“I want to thank Taraba people for giving me a wonderful woman to behold forever”.
The bride did not hide her feelings as she appreciated all and sundry who contributed to the success of their coming together as husband and wife.
Her words: “Good evening, my name is Mrs. Mercy Evans Idjesa, just turned Mrs. today. I am happy, today is the happiest day in my life, I have been wedded today, you can see my ring in my finger, I am so happy that my husband who is from Delta State came and gave me this wonderful honour before my people. He came with his family, I am so happy today. “I am overwhelmed today and I don’t know how to express my joy”,
“My husband is just a young man, so loving and matured. He is God fearing, that’s the first thing that attracted me, I even thought that he’s a Pastor”,
“We are going to keep God in our home and I know that he is a hardworking man and I am going to make sure that our marriage is sweet and remains alive”.
