A storyline usually seen in Nollywood flicks has played out in the
life of an Abakiliki-based businessman by the name Ekene Uzoigwe who
last Saturday suffered a devastating embarrassment as a final year
student of Federal Polytechnic Oko whom he had been bankrolling her
education jilted him on their supposed wedding day.
According to 2015/01/07/bride-jilts-groom-wedding-day-school-drop/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Dailypost, invited guests
who had to witness the ceremony at St Patrick Catholic Church, Umuchu
in Aguata Local government, Anambra State were not left out of the shock
when the bride whose name was given as Ifunanya Igwebuike refused to
show up to tie the knot.
They later learnt that she called off the
wedding arrangements for which had been concluded by both families.
After
keeping Uzoigwe and everyone else waiting for several hours at the
church, she sent a message to the Parish Priest, Rev. Father Lawrence
Maduagwu, intimating him that she was no longer interested and requested
him to cancel the wedding.
Ifunanya
based her decision not to get into the marriage on the ground that she
was a graduate unlike Uzoigwe whom she alleged was a school drop-out.
When this was revealed, there was uproar in the church as guests started
trooping out of the church shuddering at what happened.
The
development left Rev. Maduagwu with no option than to inform the groom
and the guests who were already seated at the church hall that the
wedding had been cancelled.
The
groom, while recounting his ordeal, informed that he proposed to
Ifunanya for marriage and she agreed on condition that he would train
her in a tertiary institution, which he agreed.
After she secured
admission, Uzoigwe took up the responsibility of financing her education
upon an agreement that they would wed during her final year.
He
further disclosed that he had paid her bride price with her being part
of the whole wedding plan. He even gave her parents N160,000 to prepare
for the wedding, aside other arrangements and expenses incurred on the
wedding and reception.
The groom insisted that she did not inform
him about her decision to back out of the wedding until he got to the
church only for the priest to announce to him and his guests about the
cancellation of the wedding.
“If she had informed me, I would not
have made arrangements. We had already cooked food and bought drinks for
the wedding,” he said.
Uzoigwe, who noted that he contacted her
parents, said they informed him that they cannot force her asking him to
come and take back the money he gave them to prepare for the wedding.
The
unfortunate groom disclosed that he was still shocked about what
happened because he never had any quarrel with Ifunanya before the
fateful day, adding that he made sure she was comfortable by making
money available to her while in school.
He had met Ifunanya at their
home town, Umuchu, where he professed his love for her subsequently
seeing her through school.
