Ex- Military Governor Of Anambra, Pleads With Igbo Parents To Reduce Bride price

ONITSHA — Former Military governor of old
Anambra State, Col. Robert Akonobi (rtd), has
pleaded with Igbo parents to reduce the bride
price of their daughters so that ‘’our young boys
can marry them.” ‘’To me, this topic (bride price)
has been dealth with in the past by Ndigbo, who
came out with a reduced bride price, to enable
our young boys marry our young girls,”
Akonobi said.
Akonobi also cautioned that men should study
their proposed wives closely and longer before
engaging into marriage because “once you
marry, no one else can put it asunder.” He spoke
at the industrial city of Nnewi, Anambra State
during the traditional wedding ceremony of the
daughter of a business mogul, Chief Louis
Onwugbenu, Onyinye and her husband, Bosah
Chukwuogo, weekend.
Nnewi was agog as dignitaries from all works of
life trooped to the residence of Chief Onwugbenu
for the memorable event. The dignitaries who
were from both the military, political and
manufacturing circles, including Col Akonobi,
Hon. Clement Nwankwu, former member of the
House of Representatives; Chairmen and Chief
Executive Officers of Gabros International Limited
and Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Limited, Chief
Gabriel and Innocent Chukwuma respectively,
among others.
The issue of high bride price was discussed
extensively on the occasion. Hon. Nwankwu, in
his own speech, prayed that Chief Onwugbenu
and his wife would live long to enjoy the fruits of
their children, especially those who married from
outside their areas.
Also, speaking, Mrs. Onwugbenu expressed
gratitude that her daughter’s hand was given out
in marriage and prayed that her in-laws who
came all the way from Awka to marry her
daughter, would go back home safely. Father of
the bride, Onwugbenu, in his own speech, said
he had already blessed his daughter and her
husband to go and make a good home.
On the bride price controversy in Igbo land,
Onwugbenu declared: “We do not charge money
as bride price for someone to marry my
daughter. To me, what is important is that my
daughter should live in peace with her husband.
Let her husband’s family members accept her as
part and parcel of their family.”