The wedding of the year 2025

By John Mayaki

It was not an ordinary wedding, if you ask me. It was not merely the union of two young people in love; no. It was a ceremony rich in values, symbolism, layered with meaning, and quietly instructive in a political climate often defined by bitterness and division. In many respects, it deserves to be remembered as one of the best weddings of 2025 in Edo State.

The marriage between Osayi Ize-Iyamu and Hayford Iduoriyekemwen did more than unite two families; it bridged two dominant political tendencies in Edo State. The bride is the daughter of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a leading national figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), while the groom is the son of Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen (Major), a prominent stalwart of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Let’s not forget that this wedding took place in a state where politics is often prosecuted with ferocity, suspicion, and long memories, this union sent some strong and powerful messages, no doubt. We learnt among others that politics need not erase humanity, friendship, or shared values.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s political journey is well known. He has served Edo State in various capacities, including as Secretary to the State Government, contested for the governorship on the platform of the PDP at one time, and later flew the flag of the APC against former Governor Godwin Obaseki. Today, he remains a respected national leader within the APC.

On the other hand, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, popularly known as Major, also has an extensive public record. A former Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly, he later represented Edo State on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and served as Director-General of the Asue Ighodalo Campaign Council during the 2024 governorship election.

Ordinarily, given the intense and sometimes hostile nature of partisan politics all over, one would expect leaders of this stature and standing on opposing political platforms, to keep a cautious distance from one another. Yet, through the choices of their children and the grace of their leadership, both men demonstrated that politics is not synonymous with enmity, nor should it be a permanent barrier to peace, coexistence, and collective progress.

The wedding ceremony itself reflected this spirit. It attracted dignitaries from across political and social divides. The Esama of Benin, His Excellency Sir Chief Dr. Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, served as Father of the Day, while other notable attendees included the Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, the Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe, and several respected personalities from different political persuasions. It was a gathering that mirrored what Edo State can look like when politics is stripped of hostility and reduced to its proper place as a tool for development, not division.

Beyond the ceremony, the symbolism continued. It was during the Christmas period at Egedege N’Okaro, the first storey building in Benin City and the entire Mid-Western Region of Nigeria, which includes present-day Edo and Delta States.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu and Hon. Iduoriyekemwen were again seen together among other leaders; dancing, celebrating culture, and sharing moments of conviviality. The building was constructed in 1906 by the late Chief Iyamu, the Inneh of Benin Kingdom, who is the great-grandfather of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

I think this is a subtle but powerful reminder that beyond elections and party colours lies a shared heritage, history, and responsibility to the people.

Predictably, the wedding also generated conversations. Some voices expressed displeasure over perceived exclusions from the guest list, including the PDP Publicity Secretary, Barrister Dan Osa Ogbegie, who publicly questioned why certain individuals were invited while others were not. While such sentiments may be understandable from a personal standpoint, they also underscore a deeper point that many people genuinely yearn to be part of unity when it manifests. Peace, after all, is attractive; even to those who once stood on opposite sides of political trenches.

Ultimately, however, the central figures of this story are the bride and groom. In choosing each other, they looked beyond party lines and political rivalries. More importantly, they were supported by parents who are politically experienced, mature, and secure enough to allow love, unity, and wisdom prevail over partisan suspicion. That, in itself, is leadership.

This is coming during our time and in year 2025 and especially when politics often tears communities apart, this wedding quietly stitched a different narrative. I am talking of maturity, tolerance, and hope. It reminded Edo people, especially the younger generation, that disagreement does not require hatred, and rivalry does not demand permanent hostility.

For these reasons, the union of Osayi Ize-Iyamu and Hayford Iduoriyekemwen stands out; not just as a celebration of love, but as a lesson in political civility and social harmony. Although for many observers, it is rightly remembered as a wedding that spoke louder than politics. But for me, it is the wedding of the year.

Congratulations to the couples!