Reduce Your Bride Price, Ex-military Governor Of Anambra Tells Igbo Parents

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.”