The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has married Queen Zaynab Ngohemba, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.
The development became public on Friday following a celebratory social media post by a member of the Dajoh family, Abraham Double-D Dajoh, who confirmed the union between the senior government official and the former Olori of the Ife Kingdom.
According to the post, Queen Zaynab was formally welcomed into the Dajoh family home in Mbakor, Benue State, earlier this December, marking the official acceptance of the marriage by the family.
Describing the union as “beautiful” and “uncommon,” the Dajoh family expressed joy over the new addition to their household and praised Senator Akume’s supporters for their continued loyalty.
“We, the entire Dajoh family, happily join our daddy, uncle and brother, His Excellency, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume Jugu Dajoh, in welcoming his new and uncommon wife, Queen Zaynab Ngohemba-George Akume Dajoh, into the Dajoh family,” the statement read.
The family also urged Akume’s political associates and supporters to remain steadfast as he embarks on this new chapter of his personal life.
Queen Zaynab, formerly known as Olori Wuraola, was married to the Ooni of Ife for about 17 months before the marriage ended in 2017. Her welcome into the Dajoh family was said to have been conducted with deep cultural significance, reflecting the family’s ancestral roots in Mbakor and Benue State.
“Welcome to Benue State, the Food Basket of the Nation; welcome to Mbakor, the seat of leadership of the Tiv nation; and welcome to the Dajoh family, the home of your darling husband. Welcome home, Queen Zaynab,” the statement concluded.
The announcement coincided with the festive season, as the family extended Christmas and New Year wishes to Nigerians.
Confirming the development, Akume’s spokesman, Yomi Odunuga, said the marriage is genuine but clarified that it did not take place recently, contrary to widespread reports.
“I can confirm the marriage. However, contrary to rumours that it was concluded on Christmas Eve, the marriage is actually over a year old,” Odunuga said.
Akume, a former Governor of Benue State, currently serves as a key member of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. News of his marriage to Queen Zaynab, a humanitarian and former royal, has generated widespread reactions across Nigeria’s social and political spaces.
