GLITZ, FRILLS AND THRILLS FROM PATRICK EDET'S HISTORIC WEDDING

                          BY KENNETH JUDE, UYO.

A well-fiitted milky coloured suit, sleek black bow tie, a shiny black pair of shoes and a mien that oscillated intermittently from laughter to gazing into space for long periods without looking at anything in particular, Former Reverend Father Patrick Edet, the resignee priest, walked down the aisle with his heartthrob, former miss Inyene Sampson Akpan in a blaze of glory, Saturday. 

Ibom Hall was the venue of this epic, long awaited marriage. This was a marriage among marriages. MC for the day, Akparawa Michael Bush aptly captured it as "wedding of the millennium". After the wedding at Cana where Jesus turned water into wine, the ace broadcaster reckoned that this was another big time wedding. To a large extent, he was right.

At any rate, it was a wedding of an ex-priest who embraced the soutane for 14 years and elected, with steely grit, to drop it and all it appurtenances for a wedding suit and ring. This moving spectacle which all looked like a blockbuster movie straight from the stable of a Hollywood thriller has never happened in Uyo Diocese in the same fashion like Edet's.

Only two prominent incidences are said to have been recorded, but those ones left without the blitz, glitz and hoopla that has accompanied Edet's earthshaking, hullabaloo ridden resignation. 
Edet is a radio man. A televangelist hence the reason his own has generated such alarming interest.

At the traditional marriage held the previous Thursday, Patrick Edet, a thoroughbred Oro man of Mbo LGA stepped forward in an attire that was neither "Oronic" nor deeply traditional. A blue cap on his head, red handbad on his wrist, red neckband, no staff, and a "senator" garb completed his sartorial ensemble. Even the ambience was devoid of the red and white colours Oro is known for. Was it deliberate? Or, is it how pastors of Oro extraction dress during such occasions? What really informed his outfit? These are puzzles many observers are yet to unravel. 

The wedding held on Saturday, as expected, lived to its billing in terms of crowd. Many thronged the venue to see it all with their eyes as I had predicted weeks back when the marriage news broke. Where I sat at the back, sandwiched in between two young men, they had never attended Patrick Edet's programme - our conversation revealed. They came for the wedding, that's all. When I told them that a small card will only admit guests into the reception venue, they were taken aback. Startled.

The auditorium was filled to the rafters. Curious guests, well wishers and busybodies positioned themselves strategically to see proceedings unhindered. The sitting position upstairs made it seem like it was a cinema hall. Talk of anxious fans seated in pin-drop quietude to watch their team trade tackles on the football pitch. Everyone looked on with rapt attention. Nobody wanted to miss a piece of the action. Yours truly was busy all day trying to ensure that every detail was captured. I deployed every arsenal in my journalistic armoury not to say an eagle eyed precision to the letter. 

As the couple made their way out of the auditorium, it was a topsy-turvy situation as many struggled to take photoshots. As I positioned to take a shot, Patrick gave me a look that sent shivers down my spine! I imagined him saying: "this boy again!" Briskly, I melted into the crowd to avoid that direct look. I had to be smart, people. 

Efforts to curtail the excesses of the crowd were to no avail. With the situation getting out of hand, the couple was whisked into a room within the auditorium in a bid to contain the emergency photographers. They didn't take other pictures outside as was planned.

Soon after, all roads led to Emerald Event Centre on Edet Akpan Avenue, venue for the reception. As would be expected, the crowd was frightening. Many were turned back at the gate by stern looking security operatives because they had no "Invitation Card". At a point, even those with the entry card had a rough time accessing the hall because they came late. The scene here bore the picture of a mega political rally.

The reception hall was tastefully decorated with blue and white overlays adorning the tables and seats. They were the predominant colours of the day. Gaily dressed ushers led guests to their seats with refreshing courtesy. Drinks, mostly non-alcoholic, were in abundant supply. While waiting for the special couple to arrive, guests helped themselves with the inviting liquids while tapping their feet to sonorous tunes dished out by the DJ. 

Soon, the coupled made their entry. It was grand. Edet, who now wore a black suit, his wife, Inyene on red gown, danced stylishly into the packed auditorium. Inyene could not contain her joy. To every step, twist and turn of Patrick, Inyene gave an infectious smile. She was easily the happiest person in that hall. Wriggling and shuffling her waist to music supplied by the DJ, the dark-skinned Itu damsel waved her hands in sheer joy as if telling anybody who cared that she's the one. The 'stealer' of Patrick's heart.

Emcee for the day, Michael Bush, ensured the programme ran as planned with some elocutionary mastery on the MIC. There was no programme for the wedding hence guests relied on guidance by the MC. It was, to me, a tactical way of bypassing some protocol. Curiously, of all the dignitaries mentioned, no family member save the wife of his army brother, Maj. Gen. Isidore Edet was conspicuous in her presence. Nobody from the Edet family stood in for his late parents. No family member got a prominent mention. A network of friends were handy. Sir. Edet Amanam, a Methodist, was governor of the feast. 

Notable at the reception was also the tactical scrapping out of the "feeding of the couple" moment. This did not take place and was rather replaced by album launch followed in quick succession by nuptial dance. But they planners missed it here. In terms of feeding, Edet would have done that to perfection. His years of dispensing communion as a priest back then to communicants would have been handy here. He surely would have fed Inyene with some finesse. It was one of the scenes I longed to see, but it was never to be. Smart folks!

As the event wore on, it was time for the couple to say a word or two. Edet, the man of the moment, stepped forward, the auditorium enveloped by silence and awe - and in a voice laden with emotion, said: "life is one, if you want to live it, live it to the full. This is the beginning of my new life." Inyene's face remained aglow and ultra animated all through the time her brand new beau spoke.

Done, a deafening applause rang through the arena as guests relished it all. 

There were performances by Cobhams Asuquo, Edidiong Ekpo and Grace Family Choral group at the reception. Their performances, needless to say, iced the occasion.

As the long and historic day ebbed into history, guests left in trickles apparently satisfied that they came, saw and witnessed the peaceful and fanciful transmogrification of a Catholic priest ordained on December 19th, 2003 to be a "priest forever" trade those holy vows with the open embrace of the bliss of matrimony with Inyene on March, 17, 2018 before God and man.

Not a few guests left praying that one has no reason to resign from anything again. This new found 'freedom', many muttered, should be exercised forever and not like the previous 'forever' vow that was shockingly short lived. 

A corterie of dignitaries including the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem who represented Governor Udom Emmanuel was there. Others include: Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Akwa Ibom State, Obong Paul Ekpo; Senator Effiong Bob; former Minister of Lands and Housing, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi; Eseme Enyibo; prince Enobong Uwah; Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Barr. Onofiok Luke; Mr. Akan Okon, among others.

Some pastors who identified with the new couple were: Dr. Gabriel Nkenang; John Linus; Bishop Isaiah Isong; Cyril Bassey; Bishop Nick Iheanacho; Pastor Anietie Ukpe; Mrs. Angela Ashong; Rev. Joseph from Lagos State; Pastor Tony Essien; Rev. Eton, among others.