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.
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.
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