The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has officially tied the knot with Queen Zaynab Ngohemba, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.
The marriage between the top government official and the former Olori of the Ile-Ife Kingdom was confirmed on Friday in a celebratory post by Abraham Double-d Dajoh, a member of the Dajoh family, on Facebook.
In the statement, the Dajoh family, which Akume belongs, described the union as “beautiful” and “uncommon,” formally welcoming Queen Zaynab into their fold in Mbakor, Benue State.
“We, the entire Dajoh Family, happily join our daddy, uncle and brother, His Excellency, The Secretary To The Government Of The Federation, Sen. George Akume Jugu Dajoh, in welcoming his new and uncommon wife, Queen Zaynab Ngohemba-George Akume Dajoh, into the Dajoh family,” the post read.
The family also extended their appreciation to political associates and supporters of the SGF, urging them to continue to stand by him.
“We appreciate and thank the fans and supporters of Sen. Akume for always standing by him. We enjoin every one of you to continue to support His Excellency even in this beautiful union with Queen Zaynab,” the statement added.
Queen Zaynab, who was known as Olori Wuraola during her 17-month marriage to the Ooni of Ife, which ended in 2017, was ushered into her new home with deep cultural reverence.
The Dajoh family expressed their pride in their Tiv heritage, noting the symbolic significance of the Queen’s welcome to Benue State.
“Welcome to Benue State, the Food Basket of the Nation, welcome to Mbakor, the seat of leadership of the Tiv nation and welcome to the Dajoh family, the home of your darling husband. Welcome home, Queen Zaynab,” the family statement read.
The family also seized the festive moment to extend season’s greetings to Nigerians, wishing them a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
“We wish you all a happy Christmas Celebration and a Prosperous New Year,” they added.
While the post sparked speculation that the marriage took place recently, particularly following the couple’s public appearance in Gboko on Christmas Eve, Akume’s spokesman, Yomi Odunuga, clarified that the marriage was not new.
“I can confirm the marriage. However, contrary to the rumour that the marriage was concretised in Gboko on Christmas Eve when the couple appeared together at an event to celebrate Christmas, it was actually a marriage that is over a year old,” Odunuga told reporters on Friday.
Akume, a former governor of Benue State and key figure in President Bola Tinubu’s administration, is one of the country’s most influential political figures.
Queen Zaynab, on her part, is a humanitarian and global advocate for women and children, who has remained a respected public figure since her time as the Ooni’s wife.
