Governor of Edo State Adams Oshiomhole and Lara Fortes

Mixed Reactions Trail Oshiomhole and Lara Fortes’ Wedding

Mixed Reactions Trails Oshiomhole and Lara Fortes’ Wedding

Governor of Edo State Adams Oshiomhole and Lara Fortes. Photo Credit: Premium Times Nigeria

All roads led to Auchi Etsako local government in Edo today, Friday, 15 May 2015! And undoubtedly, it is a day filled with much joy, excitement, delight and happiness for the former leader of the Labour congress and present Governor of Edo state Comrade Adams Oshiomhole! For those who do not know why, the 63-year-old Governor today weds his 33-year-old Cape Verde hearthrob Lara Fortes.

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The marriage took place in Auchi high court Registry, Etsako West Local Government Area of the State, followed by reception for guests at the Iyamho country home of the governor.

Top dignitaries at the August occasion were President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and vice-president elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. Others were Speaker of House of Representatives and Governor-elect of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Peter Obi, Senator-elect Dino Melaye, Senator Bukola Saraki, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, Senator Domingo Obende, Benin business mogul, Captain Hosa Okunbor, Chief Tom Ikimi, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and many others.

The Edo State Governor is remarrying five years after losing his first wife, Clara, to cancer in 2010. Oshiomhole’s bride is Cape Verde national and a former model and air hostess and their relationship has been on for a while before they took the decision to formalise it.

In the wedding invitation sent out, Oshiomhole said: “While looking forward to the honour of your distinguished presence, I sincerely crave your pardon for the rather short notice. Please accept the renewed assurances of my highest esteem.”

Meanwhile, reactions to Oshiomhole and Lara Fortes’ marriage were mixed. Some Nigerians are appalled that Oshiomhole has gone for a woman thirty years his junior, and they reason that it all goes to show that there is nothing money cannot buy – money answereth all things!

Other Nigerians have a different view. To this category of Nigerian, they feel that Oshiomhole, as the governor of Edo State, should have gone for a “local content,” suggesting that he should have set a good example by marrying an Edo girl rather than going to “import” one from far away Cape Verde.

Emmanuel Nwadei says on his Facebook timeline: “Edo in the news again over women issues. What does it say when our governor and potential 1st statesman brings home a foreign young wife. Hmmm! Of all the women in Edo and Nigeria. Even more shocking since our special governor has lived in nigeria all his life. This is not my kind of change…at a point in your public life, certain sacrifices are expected of you. Such as managing and making do with our Nigerian women instead of going to far Ethiopia to marry one.”

In response to Nwadei’s comment, Ken Iwelumo echoes similar sentiment: “Not bad for a former Trade Unionist! From Comrade to top class bourgeois. I knew this was coming. It was just a matter of time. Congrats anyway. And not bad for a poor Ethiopian girl. At least she is an adult.”

Although Dipo Awojide did not read Nwadei’s Facebook comment, his tweet seems like a reply:

In this Internet age, love can be found anywhere. To this end, Osasere Adagbonyin has cheekily suggested that the Comrade Governor has sourced his beautiful bride from Badoo! Osasere said on Facebook: “Adams Oshimohle and his affinity with the BADOO Social Network has earned him a wife… Congratulations, the Edo State governor.”