Photos from the ‘ traditional Mgbafu Mkpe ceremony’ performed after the demise of an Igbo man have spawned series of reports that claimed Betty Akeredolu, the widow of late Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has remarried her husband’ s younger brother, Prof. Wole Akeredolu.
Although the ceremony is carried out like a traditional marriage, it is worth mentioning that the ‘ Mgbafu Mkpe ceremony’ is not a traditional marriage, but a traditional Igbo ceremony performed shortly after the demise and burial of a woman’ s husband in Igbo land.
During the ceremony, the family of the woman’ s husband would indicate interest in still having the widow live with them or not.
Upon saying yes, the in- laws would hand over the widow back to the husband’ s family after performing some rituals.
Should the husband’ s family say no, certain rituals are also conducted to free the woman from her husband’ s family.
On Friday, the wife of the late governor, Betty shared photos from the ceremony with the caption on her Instagram page that reads: ” The former first lady, who was clad in a black gown with a touch of white stripes and dark sun shade, signaling that the mourning period was not yet over did not respond after the ceremony. Present at the ceremony were Umuegeolu family members, Nde Mgboto Emeabiam (Daughters of the soil) and Oha n’ lkoro Emeabiam(Elders Council). . . ”
Recall that the 2023 presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore had accused Governor Akeredolu’ s family members of being behind the latter’ s death.
While speaking during an interview on News Central TV, Sowore pointed fingers of blame at Akeredolu’ s family members, saying they were trying to use him to milk the state even when Akeredolu requested he should be taken to his hometown so he could rest amid his receding health condition as at that time.
The AAC chieftain revealed that Akeredolu’ s wife, brothers and family members flew the governor back to Nigeria from Germany against the latter’ s wish, just to use his presence to remove the then deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa (now governor) from office. CONTINUE READING
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