A Lagos would-be-bride, Yetunde Alaka, has described the lockdown imposed by President Muhammadu Buhari as a blessing in disguise.
Miss Alaka had her wedding scheduled for 5 April, but it was put off because of the coronavirus lockdown.
The postponement let her into a secret: her would-be-husband was already married to another woman.
”I had to stay with my in-laws to-be because of the lockdown and was surprised to hear them discussing about his first wife that I never knew existed.
”They still don’t know that I know. I just came up with some excuses to go and stay with a family friend residing near them.
”When some things happen, they appear to steal your joy, but they are truly a blessing in disguise.
”I am heart-broken, but I believe that the wedding didn’t happen as planned for a good reason,” Yetunde Alaka said.
Some other brides are, however, not to so happy with Buhari, especially over the extension of the lockdown in Lagos.
The president ordered the first lockdown of Lagos, Ogun and Abuja for an initial 14 days, beginning from 30 March.
Then on 13 April the president extended it for another 14 days, effective from 14 April.
The affected ladies told NAN that they were confused and frustrated by the lockdown extension as they had to cancel or further postpone their wedding ceremonies.
Miss Abimbola Ajisafe, a childcare giver, told NAN that she postponed her wedding ceremony when the initial lockdown was imposed on March 30.
”I tried to be hopeful that it would be lifted after 14 days, but it did not happen that way.
” Having your money tied down indefinitely on wedding plans is no joke,” she said.
Ajisafe, however, noted that safety was paramount, as the lockdown was for the safety of Nigerians.
“As sad as it may be, safety comes first,” she said.
A lawyer, Miss Sandra Omeche, told NAN that she stopped making further wedding plans when she suspected that the lockdown would be extended.
” My wedding date was fixed for May 2; so I had been calling my vendors to make sure that they still had certain things in place, but the lockdown extension would hinder certain things.
” Just yesterday, my parents decided to postpone the wedding ceremony indefinitely,” Omeche said.
Another bride to-be, Miss Simisola Tometi, told reporters that her wedding was slated for April 18, but the lockdown distorted the plan and left her confused.
”I must say that this year has been pretty hard on me and my fiance because it was with great difficulty that we got both families to agree to our union.
”Just when we thought everything was moving smoothly, the lockdown started.
”I still can’t find words to express how I feel, but I pray that God help me through this trying time. I am really sad,” Tometi said.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK