At a time when some marriages have turned war zones as a result of incessant domestic violence, mistrust, lack of love, un-contentment among others thereby making many young Nigerians claim that there was nothing like true love, a graduate of the University of Uyo, South South Nigeria, Utip Okon has proved them wrong.
Utip believes that the best way to prove one’s love is to go against all odds just to be with the one your heart wants.
And so, the world stood still for him yesterday when he took his best friend and physically challenged wife, Edidiong Edet for a traditional wedding at her hometown, Ituk Mbang in Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The ceremony, which almost caused a stampede, attracted people from all walks of life who paid their way from different parts of the country, just to catch the glimpse of the couple.
A native of Ituk Mbang and graduate of Mass Communication, Uduak Edward told me in an interview that she has never witnessed such a mammoth crowd at any marriage ceremony, not even at politician’s wedding.
“I just went there snap and left because the crowd was too much. Do u believe I have not seen the bride with my eyez? The marriage was one of its kind. The marriage was almost stopped at a point because the crowd didn’t give space for the bride to go round. You won’t believe the crowd The bride is in the middle of this crowd, u can imagine that.”
Like Edward said, Methodist Primary School, Ituk Mbang, was filled with many imagining how The Apostolic Church, Nsit District Headquarters on Udo Eduok Street, Uyo, would contain another influx of friends during the wedding coming up this Saturday.
The bride, Edidiong is a devout Christian and chorister of The Apostolic Church, who despite being in a wheel-chair, serves God faithfully and diligently. Her angelic voice could raise the dead.
While Edidiong secured a job at Akwa Ibom State Government House, Uyo, through her disposition, her husband also got a government job too.
She couldn’t control emotions as her face was beaming with smiles and tears of joy throughout the event, waving to God for making her dream come true as a married woman.
In an interview, she said “truly, it pays to serve God. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ. I’m fulfillled. I’m a child of God. I’m a graduate, I’m working, I’m happily married.”
Also speaking, Okon simply said that Edidiong was his destined queen adding that in his own eyes she was not disabled or crippled.
One of her friends, Godwin Jarkwa described Edidiong as an epitome of beauty and brain. “I know her for many years. We attended the same Nursery School. People who live around Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo, may have been noticing this pretty lady on wheel chair every morning and evening going to work never a beggar. Feel free to join me and make that devil regret for making her sit on a wheel chair.”
In deed and words, the groom has left many social media users believing in the essence of true love after his photo with his physically challenged wife surfaced on the internet.
Truly, love can be found anywhere, because it does not judge based on physical things, but attributes to character and the content of one’s heart.
