Former
husband of Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, Oluwafolajimi Akeem Bello, yesterday
married his longtime girlfriend, Olajumoke Katherine Thompson.
Bello
tied the nuptial knot with the woman he described as “the only woman I
ever loved,” amidst tight security at the marriage registry of the Orile
Agege Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria.
Husband
and wife were joined together at exactly 11.58 a.m. by Mrs. Oluwakemi
Hamed, a registrar at the Orile Agege LCDA, in the presence of family
members and friends, including veteran highlife musician, Dr. Victor
Abimbola Olaiya (OON).
The
new union came almost eight years after Bello divorced Iyabo Obasanjo
and mother of his only son. Bello got married to Iyabo in September
1999, few months after her father was sworn in as Nigeria’s president.
Four years later, the marriage crashed.
Speaking with P.M.NEWS after they were joined together, the couple expressed joy that they are now husband and wife.
“Simply
put, today is one of the best days of my life. I feel excited and give
glory to Almighty God that I’m alive today to be able to take this
lovely, humble and compassionate woman to be my better half,” said the
new husband. “Jumoke happens to be my first and only love. And for 25
years, she has been very patient and considerate of my own shortcomings
in life. I feel great to have her,” Bello added.
Prodded
to explain why he waited almost eight years after he divorced Iyabo,
before remarrying, Bello said: “There is a saying that what is worth
enjoying is worth waiting for. Like I said, Olajumoke has been very
patient and caring and there is no best time as this time to appreciate
her unquestionable devotion and commitment to my life.”
The
new wife, who is a businesswoman based in the United States said: “I
couldn’t have wished for another man. This wedding is a dream come true.
Today (yesterday) is a joyous day for me as I have looked forward to
this day. I’m so blessed to be married to Folajimi. I believe God has
ordained this marriage and all thanks and glory will forever go to Him.”
Iyabo
Obasanjo had on 19 May, 2003, filed for divorce at the State of
Carolina General Court of Justice, District Court Division, United
States of America before Alonzo B. Coleman Jnr.
In
the course of the hearing of the case with file number 03 CVD 384, her
former husband, Bello, prayed the court to award him custody of their
only child, Jimi Bello, who was born on 1 January, 2000 in Chatham
County, North Carolina. The court subsequently granted him custody.
However,
on 27 July, 2004, Iyabo allegedly took the boy from her former
husband’s home in Pittsbhoro and fled to Nigeria with him. After a
series of failed efforts to get her to return the child to his father,
District Court Judge Charles T.L. Anderson ruled on 9 May, 2005 that she
was in contempt of the court.
The court asked local, state and international law enforcement officers to take Iyabo into custody.
Since the
court order, she has not visited the U.S. She was ordered by court
authorities to pay $875 per month in child support to her former
husband, Bello, effective 24 October, 2004. However, court records show
that former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s first daughter has not paid
any dime in this mandated child support contribution.
Source:PM NEWS
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