High Cost Of Bride Price: Former Anambra Gov. Robert Akonobi Pleads With Igbo Parents

During the traditional wedding ceremony of the daughter of a business mogul, Chief Louis Onwugbenu, Onyinye and her husband, Bosah Chukwuogo, in the industrial city of Nnewi, Anambra State, 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 dealt 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.

 

He 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.'

The issue of high bride price was discussed extensively on the occasion as father of the bride, Onwugbenu, in his own speech on the bride price controversy in Igbo land, He said: "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."

 

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, CEO's of Gabros International Limited and Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Limited, Chief Gabriel and Innocent Chukwuma respectively, among others.