The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye, has reaffirmed that the bond of unity among Nigerians will continue to strengthen despite multifaceted challenges, stating that the nation is joined “through the divine mandate of God.”
Afuye appealed to parents not to discourage their children from engaging in inter-ethnic marriages, urging citizens to exhibit traits that will unite Nigeria rather than those that will aggravate existing fault lines, cleavages, acrimony, and hatred.
Ekiti’s number two citizen spoke in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Capital, on Saturday, during the wedding ceremony between Blessing Eyakenyi and Ekiti-born Olumuyiwa Adewumi.
Blessing Eyakenyi is the daughter of the Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi.
Afuye, in a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, praised the new couple for rising above the primordial sentiment of ethnic differences and becoming united as a family.
Justifying her claim that Nigeria will be difficult to divide, the Deputy Governor stated that the existing inter-ethnic marriages and strong political relationships among Nigerians would make the country inseparable.
She added that the marriage between the couple further attests to the fact that ethno-religious differences are not a barrier to the citizens’ relationships, cordiality, and fraternities.
Afuye said, “I feel honoured to be here to grace this marriage ceremony between our daughter, Miss Blessing Eyakenyi, and our son, Olumuyiwa Adewumi, who are now joined as a united family as Mr. and Mrs. Adewumi.
“I feel elated on the premise that this marriage further attests to how united we are as Nigerians. Nothing can divide us as a people because we are a nation joined by the divine mandate of God.
“The fact that we have intermarried and shared common family values makes Nigerians inseparable, no matter the cultural disparity and ethno-religious differences.”