ANAGEENDE AND OGUNWUSI: MARRIAGE AND RUMBLING IN ROYAL HOUSEHOLDS
Mike Utsaha, Esq
Within the last few days two events, completely unrelated, but similar in many respects, occurred and have generated public interest.
In far away Ife, the astonishingly beautiful Princess Naomi, wife of the Ooni of Ife, who took to Instagram to announce her exit from the royal household was “prevailed” upon, to rescind her decision to quit her marriage, and return to her marital home. She did!
In Makurdi, at about the same time, the Tor Lobi, His Royal Majesty Zaki Moses Anageende, KSJI was joined, in holy matrimony, to his bride, Racheal Doofan Joseph Detso.
Like the case of Princess Naomi, this marriage too, has understandably generated some public interest.
Marital relationships involving public figures and, royalty in particular, have always been the subject of public interest.
Those who are familiar with church history understand the circumstances that led to the emergence of what is today known as the Church of England Anglican Communion.
Still on the British monarchy, the circumstances under which Princess Diana and her husband Prince Charles got separated, and the circumstances leading to her death in a Paris tunnel, with her friend, Dodi El-Fayed, are also out there in the public domain.
Since biblical times marriage has always been about companionship, nothing more, nothing less. I agree that in traditional African societies marriage is more about procreation than it is about companionship.
Now, if this is the case, then it is reckless, senseless and uncharitable for folks to sit in judgement over Zaki Anageende for choosing to remarry after the demise of his wife of many years, and for his choice of bride.
Some of the most popular people in the world, and about whom we read on pages of newspapers, or watch on TV, are some of the most loneliest people you can ever imagine.
When the day’s work is done, and aides take their deserved leave, these guys are left all alone to themselves.
This is the context within which we must understand and appreciate the recent marriage of Tor Lobi.
I am however worried for Princess Naomi, but I will nevertheless be a bit restrained in passing judgement over her decision to return to the royal household.
Certainly, her decision to leave was not a knee jerk reaction, she must have pondered over it.
For her now to rescind that decision, probably not because the situation that made her move has changed, but rather because she has had pressure mounted on her, seems to me like we have not heard the last on this.
I think we need to allow folks manage their relationships in the best way possible without any form of external pressure.
It is s/he who wears the shoes that knows where it pinches, and no amount of pressure, or the lack therefore, can repair a bad marital marital relationship.
Gone are those days when even women were willing to remain in abusive or otherwise uncharitable relationships on account of “mbayev av”, no way!
We men are even less tolerant of relationships that are not working, and attempts to keep together marital unions that have failed or are failing, almost always ends up in a manner that is less than salutary.
Things have changed, and we need to be conscious of this.
In all, I wish Zaki Anageende and Princess Racheal the very best as they embark on this journey. I also wish Princess Naomi and the Ooni of Ife the very best as they try to manage their relationship as best as they can.
