Penultimate Saturday, at Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, the daughter of an Ilorin-based lawyer, John Olusola Baiyeshea, Abigail Yetunde and her beau, Michael Babajide Alabi tied the nuptial knot. ADEKUNLE JIMOH of The Nation reports

The solemnisation of the wedding between AbigailYetunde, daughter of an Ilorin-based legal practitioner, John Olusola Baiyeshea and her beau, Michael Babajide Alabi took place at the United Missionary Church of Africa (UMCA), Tanke, a suburb in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

As early as 9.30am on that day, human and vehicular movement on the Chapel College Road, off the University of Ilorin Road, Tanke was heavy.

Dignitaries from all walks of life graced the colourful wedding.

Members of Baiyeshea's constituency - the Bar and even the Bench - were not left out they turned out in large number.

The numerous canopies and television monitors outside the expansive hall of the hilltop church testified to number of guests who graced the occasion.

Before the exchange of marital vows, the officiating minister, Reverend Gbenga Odebiri, exhorted the new couple, saying: "Marriage was ordained for companionship, mutual living, help and comfort for another both in prosperity and adversity.

"It was ordained for procreation that children should be brought up in the fear and admonition of the Lord to the praise of His Holy name and it was ordained in order that the natural instinct and affection implanted by God might be hallowed and directed aright, that those who are called by God to this holy estate should continue therein in the pureness of living."

Also, Evangelist Isaac Omoleyin of the World Assembly Church, said the institution of marriage came from God.

Quoting from Genesis 2:18, he said: "Unceasing prayers, forgetting resolved issues and ability to forgive each other," are some of the factors that ensure the sustenance of marriage.

After declaring Alabi and Abigail husband and wife, Revd Jonathan John Issa presented the marriage certificate to the couple. The couple and their parents then signed the marriage register.

At the end of the service, the couple posed for photograhps with family members and well-wishers before they moved to the M and M Events, where guests were lavishly entertained.

The bridegroom was decked in a white shirt with an ox blood bow tie and an ash colour suit on top of a pair of black trousers.

The couple who arrived at the venue of the reception at 1:53pm was led into the elegantly decorated hall by the bridal train. The couple danced to the admiration of all into the hall.

After a short prayer, the chairman of the occasion, Emmanuel Baiyekusi, said God made the day a reality so that all glory would be His.

"Bringing up a family is very important. If your parents have been married for four decades and are still together, I call it the miracle of commitment. That means you have to be committed," he enjoined the new couple.

Dr S. K. Adedoyin supervised the cutting of the cake designed in white and a sprinkling of black.

Father of the bride Baiyeshea expressed happiness

"I feel happy. I thank God for making this a reality. I give honour and glory to God. That is the summary of how I feel.

"My piece of advice to the newly wedded is for them to surpass the records of we, their parents. I mean if God has helped us to do well, they should do better and we will pray for them to do better."

In his vote of thanks, the groom, Alabi, described the large turn-out as a show of goodwill for him.

He also thanked the Baiyesheas for giving their daughter to him, promising to be a good and caring husband.