Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and the state Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, expressed concern over the increasing rate of divorce in the country.
The duo spoke as Special Guest of Honour and Chairman respectively at the traditional wedding ceremony between former Miss Jennifer Ogun and Mr Preye Singabele, son of the Chairman, Bayelsa State Civil Service Commission, Dr Peter Singabele.Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who attributed the rising level of marriage failures to lack of true love and understanding of the intricacies surrounding marriage, urged married couples to see their conjugal relationship as a social contract for life.
Making reference to the Bible book of Ephesians, the deputy governor enjoined the newly wed to imbibe and practice the inseparable love relationship between Jesus Christ and the Church, popularly known as the Agape love.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo congratulated Mr and Mrs Preye Singabele on their successful marriage ceremony but however, warned them against third party interference for their union to stand the test of timeHis words, “The intention of marriage right from its creation is not for dissolution. And so, we are encouraging our young couples to learn how to remain in marriage.
“If for any reason, any of you would want to dissolve this marriage, then you have to gather all this crowd of people that are here witnessing your marriage to give you their consent.
“For marriage to stand the test of time with all of its challenges, those who go into it must practice the Agape kind of love, which is the love our Lord Jesus Christ has for the church.
“And that is why the Book of Ephesians says wives should submit to their husbands and the husbands must love their wives. It is not the kind of love you express on Facebook and other social platforms.”While I congratulate the two families and the couple on the success of this ceremony, let me also say that, it is important for both families to stay away from this moment on. Allow them to make their mistakes and corrections by themselves.
“On her part, the state Chief Judge, Justice Abiri, described the number of applications seeking for divorce in the law courts, particularly from young couples, as alarming and worrisome.
She, therefore, called on religious leaders and other stakeholders to scale up counselling on marriage and urged the celebrants to tolerate each other in addition to spending quality time together.
In an interview, father of the groom and Chairman, Bayelsa State Civil Service Commission, Dr Peter Singabele, expressed joy and appreciation to all who graced the occasion as well as contributed to its success.
Dignitaries at the event, which took place at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Yenagoa, included the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Solomon Aguananagha, Head of Service, Mrs Biobelemoye Charles-Onyema, House of Assembly members, Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and other top government functionaries.
