When former Accountant General of Lagos State, Chief David Sunmoni and his wife sent out invitation cards for their daughter’s wedding, not many expected the kind of robust attendance and overflow of men and materials at the event.
This is because the bride’s father was no longer in service and the wedding was fixed on the same day as the famous Eyo festival celebration day to mark Lagos State at 50.
When eventually it turned out to be a rainy Saturday, May 20, 2017, pessimists expected a low turnout at the wedding.
But Mr. and Mrs. Sunmoni, parents of the former Miss Olaide Oluwakemi and their in-laws, parents of the groom………………………ssurprised everyone at the two venues of the ceremony – the Methodist Cathedral Church, Ita-Elewa, Ikorodu for the white wedding and Caritas Events Center along Ibeshe road for the social reception.
Between 12noon and 9pm, this event center boiled over. Vehicles filled the entire premises of the events centers and spilled over to the main Ebute to Ibeshe road, stretching for over one kilometer.
Eminent personalities gathered from Lagos State and beyond, such that people thought it was the wedding of a President’s son or a Governor’s daughter. It was a clear lesson and message to those in government and those holding top positions in public or private sectors that it is good to be good and humble to others rather than being proud and arrogant while in office as some people , who think they would be in power forever, do.
This wedding became a talk of the town for the sake of Chief David Sunmoni’s family and in-laws, Engr. and Mrs. Adeleye, and especially for the fact that Chief Sunmoni ended his civil service career honourably and humbly. The setting of the hall and the classy set of guests at the wedding were indicative of the stature of this man and those who partnered with him to organize the event.
There was the distinctive presence of different cadres of civil servants, public officials and private sector drivers. Also present were wives of Lagos State Government officials, among who was the former First Lady of Lagos State, Dame Emmanuela Abimbola Fashola, who was highly appreciated for her humility in and out of office. She sat quietly with her fellow women at this event and was applauded when she arrived. People admired this modest mother, who during her eight years as first lady, was neither proud nor arrogant to anyone. Her past records spoke for her as they did for Chief David Sumoni.
This writer cannot quantify how much was spend for this wedding, but it must have run into millions of Naira and there is no doubt that the young couple Oluwakemi and Oluwatosin would be proud of their parents’ lavish show of love and care.
Oriwu Sun wishes the couple a happy marriage and wish their parents long and healthy life to reap the fruits of their labour over the couple.