Monday 20 August 2012

A Fixed Common Bride Price For All Indigenes –Will it work?


Imo State Parliament To Fix A Common Bride Price For All Indigenes,according to report,the increase in the number of the unmarried youths in their communities, the Traditional Parliament in Nigeria’s eastern state of Imo, Owerri, passed its first resolution on the harmonization of bride price in all communities in the state.

The motion, entitled, “Motion on the Harmonization of the Marriage Institution in Imo”, was moved by Eze Duru Okwudor and Eze Obi II of Okwudor in Njaba Local Government Area alongside other traditional rulers.

Okwudor identified high pride price and difficulties involved in the process of traditional marriage as some of the reasons for a change in the system.

He noted that the behaviour of some parents and community leaders on the issue of bride price during marriage was a source of worry to young adults.

“What obtains in the marriage institution today leaves much to be desired. It is as if the parents want to sell their daughters. If this is allowed to continue it will translate into a big problem to our youths who want to marry,” he said.



Okwudor, therefore, listed the process by which marriage would be made less cumbersome and cheaper to both the family of the would-be bride and the bridegroom.

The motion was seconded by Eze Ekperechukwu of Obowo. However, Eze Ekwueme Ekwueme, the Ochia of Ohaji Ebgema, opposed the motion and urged the parliament to allow communities to decide on the bride price. He said it would be out of place for the traditional rulers to decide for parents, who had spent much in training their daughters, on how much to collect for bride price.

Another motion tabled before the parliament was the motion on “The Presentation and Sharing of Kola nuts in Imo.” The motion was introduced by Eze Okwara Echi from Nkwere Local Government Area and supported by three other traditional rulers. Then the issue of speaking of Igbo Language compulsory in the state schools was raised.

 Reacting, the Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Samuel Ohiri, noted that the motion on kola nuts would be deliberated upon by a committee that would be formed by the parliament while that on the speaking of Igbo Language would be reintroduced.

The highpoint of the parliament sitting was the formalization and conferment of the title of Owelle Gburugburu of Igbo land (Traditional Prime Minister of NdiIgbo) on Gov. Rochas Okorocha. The motion for the conferment of the title was moved by Eze Obiefula, Ezedibia of Nekede, and seconded by Eze Onwuchiribeya Mmerenni of Umudibia in Owerri West Local Government Area.

 They noted that the governor deserved the title considering his leadership qualities and achievements in the state in his one year in office. Responding, the Governor thanked the traditional rulers for the award, saying that the title signified “a big journey that has just started.”

He pledged his unalloyed support to the success of the traditional parliament.

16 comments:

Pat said...

Nawo! So te the govt has involved himself in marriage rites

Anonymous said...

This is good, nice one

Simpson said...

So many young men are not looking forward to getting married bc of this money matter so this is a away forward

Daniel said...

Vivien have you ever witness igbo marriage,its preposterous,the amount of money they pour out not to talk of the list of items as the man will have t o provide

Oluchi said...

How can you ask her if she has witness igbo marriage is she not ibo, VIVIEN NWANDU,what does that sound in your ear

Bethel said...

Hmm!I tot she was a half cast

Tobi said...

So even if she’s half cast,she is still igbo and I know she’s well informed about all these

Justina said...

The bride in the photo looks all fulfilled, abeg intervene very well so our young men can marry joor

Amaka said...

As this govt were reading my mind,I've been proposed to my fiance for 4yrs now, he tells me he is saving for him to give me the perfect wedding,im so irrited, im not getting younger, i'm not happy bc i love him so much and i dont want to lose thim to another girl,we quarrel alot base on this matter.

Mbanu said...

Amaka,I will tell you this as a brother, that dude is seeing sb else,he does not love you like that,that is a long time to be proposed to sb especially in igbo land

Mike said...

Dont be to quick to conclusion,the ibo men from study marry late,dont go putting ideas on the girls head

Rita said...

4yrs is a long time, and there is no perfect wedding

Anonymous said...

Most of these big men won’t like it, they want to keep oppressing the young dudes,that’s why most girls don’t mind being a 2nd wife

Vicky said...

It’s a big pity, its not only in the igbo areas it all over Nigeria

Obinna said...

True but its worst among the igbos

Jon-Prester said...

Nice move!But have they considered the 'what if'...the willingness!