- Davido and Chioma defiantly chose the bustling streets of Lagos as the backdrop for their traditional wedding, thumbing their noses at traditionalists who insisted on the quiet hills of Chioma’s Imo State hometown.
- Amidst swirling controversy, Joe Igbokwe and a chorus of voices raised alarm bells over safety risks in Imo State.
- This sparked a heated response from Governor Uzodinma, who fired back with fierce denunciations, escalating tensions over the contentious choice of wedding venue.
The Imo state government vehemently denied any notion of rampant insecurity hampering social events like Chivido wedding, asserted the region’s readiness to host such gatherings without fear.
In a fiery statement, APC heavyweight Joe Igbokwe, pointed fingers at IPOB, the Eastern Security Network, and other armed groups, alleging their activities drove Afrobeats Superstar, Davido and Chioma to opt for Lagos instead of her Imo state roots for their traditional wedding.
Igbokwe wrote: “As beautiful and colourful CHIVIDO’s wedding is I regret the obvious and painful truth that the event did take place in the South East. Thank you IPOB, ESN And KGM (known Gun Men). Jisienu Ike 0000000.
“Anybody that has Igbo blood running in him or her should reflect on what happened today in Lagos. A well known prestigious Adeleke family from Osun State could not go to SE to perform the traditional marriage for son Davido and bride, Chioma.”
In a scathing response released on Thursday, June 27, Onwuasoanya Jones, speaking on behalf of Governor Hope Uzodinma, fiercely dismissed the claims as baseless and misleading.
Jones underscored Governor Uzodinma’s unwavering commitment to fortifying Imo State as a safe haven for all, challenging any insinuation that security concerns influenced Davido and Chioma’s wedding venue choice.
The statement reads;
“The narrative that the cultural marriage ceremony was held in Lagos because of insecurity in Imo State or the Southeast is not correct.
“Imo State, especially the axis where this marriage ceremony could have been held, if Davido chose to hold the ceremony in Nkwere or Owerri, are among the safest places in the Southeast.
“Davido’s decision to hold his marriage ceremony outside Imo State must not be politicized or misrepresented.
“The idea of holding cultural marriage ceremonies at cities other than the homestead of the bride is a cultural trend that has been evolving for over one decade now,”