Imo glows for Chinedu Ikedieze’s (Aki) wedding

The traditional wedding (Igba Nkwu) of Nollywood superstar Chinedu Ikedieze globally known as Aki, has come and gone, but the memory of the one day carnival-like ceremony will remain indelible in the minds of Imo State indigenes, especially the people of Mbano, where Aki’s wife, Nneoma hails from.
Originally billed for 12 noon, the star-studded event, which held elaborately at the expansive St. Theresa’s Catholic Church Field, Obolo Isiala Mbano, finally commenced around 3.p.m., when the bride and groom drove into the venue in a long convoy of high-end automobiles. The latest couple in Nollywood were chauffeur driven in a stretch and dark-coloured Magnum. The capacity filled venue erupted in cheers the moment Aki, who was swathed in an all Igbo attire with a matching black cap and walking stick alighted from the car with his darling wife, who also looked angelic and elegant in her traditional Igbo ensemble.
It took the timely intervention of a combined team of security operatives that included regular police, mobile police, soldiers, plain clothe officers and some para military establishments to calm and control the teeming crowd that surged forward to catch a glimpse of their star and his beau. In fact, controlling the mammoth crowd eventually turned out the biggest task of the day for the security agencies present at the talk-of-the-town wedding, because they later became helpless and totally confused towards the end of the very grand occasion.
Although, the arrival of Abia State Governor, Chief T.A. Orji and his wife alongside some members of his cabinet further revved up the ceremony, which was beautifully anchored by famous comic actor, Kingsley Ogbonna (Dauda) and chaired by Chief Kingsley Megwarah. However, the icing on the cake was the presence of over 20 Nollywood stars that came to felicitate with the couple in Mbano. And the villagers as well as those from the neighbouring communities came out in droves to see their favourite entertainers live.
Some even went as far as climbing trees, high fences and roof tops in order to have a clear view of the proceedings, which one of the village elders described as, “historic and memorable.”
Surprisingly, what would have amounted to a tragedy was miraculously averted when some young villagers fell from a tall tree after one of its weak and over loaded branches caved in. No casualty was recorded, except for minor bruises and injuries.
Interestingly, the high point of the turbo-charged event, which paraded three live bands, was when the visibly elated Mr. and Mrs. Ikedieze hit the crowded dance floor and rocked separately to the tripartite music of legendary Maduka Morocco, youthful Saro-Wiwa and ebullient Koboko.
The gyration reached a crescendo when Aki’s colleagues from Nollywood joined them on the dance floor and stylishly surrounded the newly wed by forming a ring around them, to the admiration of all. They also sprayed the couple with various denominations of Naira notes while performing this scintillating exercise amid cheers.
Meanwhile, prior to all these activities at the open field of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, a reliable insider squealed to EE, that both families had met and performed the traditional marriage rites behind closed doors at the bride’s family house.
The only rite they performed at the field was when Nneoma was given the palm wine to take to her husband, which she did romantically amid applause.
In his remarks, Governor Orji, who hailed Aki, for being a great ambassador of Abia State and Nigeria, urged the couple to put God first in whatever they do. Orji, who flew in from France specifically for the nuptials, also thanked all those that came from far and wide to rejoice with them, adding that the marriage was the will of God and must be fulfilled.
Top Nollywood actress and producer, Uche Jombo, in her goodwill message, wished the couple the best of marital bliss and many years of happiness. “As a sister and colleague, I’m wishing Nedu and Nneoma a happy married life alongside many years of happiness and long life. It was a great outing and I enjoyed and cherished every moment of it”, she says with a bold smile.
Aki’s soul mate and best man at the event, Osita Iheme, famously known as Pawpaw, was full of praises to God Almighty for making the wedding a huge success. He also hailed his colleague for taking the bold step, while praying God to bless the union with all the good things of life that comes with marriage.
The newest husband in Tinsel town, Aki, whose wife also read Mass Communication like him, in a chat with EE, said he was overwhelmed with the phenomenal success his wedding witnessed.
“My brother, sincerely, I’m still speechless and overwhelmed almost 24 hours after my wedding. I thank God, my wife, family, In-laws, my Governor, colleagues and all those that made my day grand at the wedding. God bless all of you immensely”, he prays in a cracked voice.
Meanwhile, Lagos State is already agog for Aki’s white wedding, which holds on December 10, at a yet-to-be fixed venue.