By: Odieh Ramon, Yenagoa.
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has urged newly wedded couples to make the virtues of love, forgiveness and compromise the bedrock of their marriage.
Governor Diri gave the charge at the marriage ceremony of one of his aides, Mr. Binaebi Okpofabiri, and former Miss Janet October Lokpobiri, over the weekend at the Chief Diepreye Alameiyesegha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa.
Represented by his deputy, Dr. Peter Akpe, he stressed that the ability to manage differences was key to sustaining a successful conjugal relationship.
The governor, noted that marriage brings together two individuals with different backgrounds and personalities, thereby making disagreements inevitable, and therefore maintained that couples must learn to accommodate each other at all times.
His words: “No two saints are married because we are all human with individual differences. Surely there is bound to be some difference but it is your ability to manage these differences is what matters. Cultivate the habit of tolerance and and make forgiveness your watchword in your day-to-day living.”
Gov Diri congratulated the couple and commended family members, friends and well-wishers for coming together to celebrate the union, noting that support should not only be shown when people were no more.
He also appreciated the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who served as the father of the day, for his contributions to Bayelsa State and Nigeria.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) and Father of the Day, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri expressed joy over the union and congratulated the couple as they begin their journey of love and companionship.
He prayed God to bless the marriage with peace, joy, understanding, good health and lasting love, urging the couple to nurture their bond and shared dreams.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the occasion and Chief Executive Officer of De Wayles Group of Companies, Dr Victor Wayles Egukawhore, also congratulated the couple and advised them to cherish their marriage.
Mr. Binaebi Okpofabiri, an aide to Governor Diri, hails from Ogboloma Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state, while the bride, Janet October Lokpobiri, is a niece of Senator Lokpobiri
Some notable personalities at the event were serving and former federal and state lawmakers, including Hon. Rodney Ambaiowei, Hon. Benard Kenebai, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Thompson Amule, the Coordinator, Bayelsa State Community Safety Corps, Gen. Eric Angaye, Chairmen of local government councils and other top government functionaries.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Akpe, has again reminded politicians in the state not to allow politics to create division but rather be conscious of their common ancestry and brotherhood in whatever they do.
Dr Akpe stated this when he visited the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate running for the Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency seat at the National Assembly, Chief Selekebina Saboh, at his residence in Yenagoa, to identify with him on his 53rd birthday anniversary.
The Deputy Governor, who urged the political class not to forget that they were brothers before politics, congratulated Chief Saboh on his birthday anniversary and prayed God to bless the celebrant.
Responding, Chief Saboh commended the leadership style of Dr Akpe while thanking him and his entourage for the visit.
