Adebayo Adenrele
Wole Akeredolu, the younger brother of the former Governor of Ondo State, late Rotimi Akeredolu has taken over his wife, Betty Akeredolu as his new wife.
Betty was repossessed as a result of Mgbafu Mkpe traditional ceremony administered on widows in Imo state.
The repossession celebration took place at the Emeabiam Community in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State where the Anyanwu handed to Wole Akeredolu.
This was after the Akeredolus had indicated interest in still having Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the Ada Owere 1 in their family after the demise of her husband.
Before the handover, the Akeredolus had presented kolanuts, palm wine and she-goat to the Umuegeolu kindred including food to the Anyanwus as tradition demands.
Responding on behalf of the Akeredolus, Prof Wole Akeredolu expressed gratitude to the family, the Umuegeolu kindred and the entire Emeabiam Community for their hospitality and pledged to continue to cater for Betty.
Present at the ceremony were Umuegeolu family members, Nde Mgboto Emeabiamn (Daughters of the soil) and Oha n’Ikoro Emeabiam(Elders Council).
NEWSTODAYNG gathered that Mgbafu Mkpe is a traditional Igbo ceremony performed shortly after the demise and burial of a woman’s husband in Igbo land where the family of the woman’s husband would indicate interest in still having the widow to live with them or not.
Upon saying yes, the in-laws would hand over the widow back to the husband’s family after performing some rituals. Should the husband’s family say no, certain rituals are also conducted to free the woman from her husband’s family.