Some weeks back, the Port Harcourt glitterati alongside their Yenagoa counterparts, gathered for a double celebration at the Hub Event Center, Port Harcourt. It was the 70th birthday of the matriarch of the Anyanya family, Elder Mrs. Lois Anyanya. The same day, also marked her 55th years of marriage to her husband, Elder Lancelot Anyanya. It was a gathering of who’s who as the event had in attendance the top leadership of the Rivers and Bayelsa state governments, politicians, military top brass, traditional rulers, members of the clergy and society bigwigs. thebladengr.com brings you gist of how the classy event chaired by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State went down…
MAJOR LANCE ANYANYA ON WHY THEY CELEBRATED THEIR PARENTS
“When you have a parent turning 70, you want to mark it one way or the other. My mother did not want anything like a party, she only said if we wanted to do anything for her, there was a particular project we have to do for her church. But we felt the two were not exclusive of each other. We decided that we will do the project for the church, because it’s the right thing to do. I mean you also do yourself a favour when you support God’s work. But we also felt that it was a pleasure to honour and celebrate them, because as the scripture said, honour your father and mother that your days will be long. It’s the fifth commandment and the first with a promise. For me, it was also a way to modify the trend of our tradition. Sometimes you find out that it’s when our parents are called home, in the full ripe old age, we throw big burial parties. For me personally, it never made sense. Because the people for whom you are doing that honour cannot see it physically, maybe at most, they’re watching it from heaven. And I imagine they could be saying, “I wish you did it for me when I was with you on earth where it really matters”, because up there, it doesn’t really matter because they have something better. So I consulted with my siblings and concluded that we should celebrate them for the period God has given us the opportunity to be with them. We have benefitted from them in ways we cannot describe. If in the society today we have any commendations, any form of praises, any testimony, it’s because of whom our parents have made us to be by the grace of God. Yes, it was a big challenge financially and otherwise, but I was encouraged by the scripture where Jesus said to those who wanted to discourage the woman with the Alabaster box pouring the ointment on him. They said, well, the poor could make use of this, but Jesus said, “the poor are always with you”. You have time to do charity but there’s always an opportune time to do honour to whom honour is due. And clearly my parents, Elder and Elder Mrs. Anyanya, they are more than due this honour. I wish we could do more. I wish to thank all my friends, all my colleagues from different walks of life and old friends from when I was a little boy who came here to celebrate my parents with us. The Governor of Bayelsa State, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, members of the National Assembly, members of the house of assembly, friends from abroad, friends and colleagues of my siblings, members of the Armed Forces, members of my social club, members of my football club, members of my old governorship campaign team, they turned out enmasse, some are in different political parties now. It’s a good thing, you saw what happened today, people from different political divides congregating together, today was not a day for politics, people just gathered to make merry and be happy and to rejoice with my parents”.
WHAT GOVERNOR DICKSON SAID
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State who chaired the event, extolled Elder Mrs. Anyanya as “a Godly, diligent and virtuous woman who over the years, worked had to ensure she gave her best service to God and the society through her work as a teacher and molder of children for several decades”. “This is a very significant event. We’re celebrating a marriage that has gone on for 55 years and still counting. That’s very significant. Quite frankly, I can’t remember attending any event celebrating a marriage that is older than this. Today’s celebration has a lot to tell us, about the importance of stable homes, about the importance of love in a relationship, about the role of God in keeping families and keeping relationships. This is a spectacular ecclesiastical union. That’s what has kept them going. We’re very happy for them, that’s why we’re here to celebrate with them today. I thank my brother and his siblings for giving Papa and Mama this honour. I bring greetings and warm congratulatory messages from Bayelsa to our father and mother and to the larger family”.
GARDEN CITY CHOIR KEPT ALL SINGING
Next time you have a social event, you must make it complete only if you invite the Garden City Choir. The all-male choral group made all the difference at the Lois Anyanya 70th. They made the hymns come alive as if they were only composed yesterday. Their presentation was so tantalizing that the celebrants and their guests sang and danced to the rhythm.
…AND GRANDMA LOIS CAN DANCE
You needed to be there to see how the 70 year-old kept everyone on their feet, as they applauded her dance steps and swayed to the beats alongside her. She took her friends, daughters and all the young women at the event to task as she made all the right dance moves. They all labored to catch up with her fluid movement. All the while she danced, she kept a huge smile on her face. Indeed, the musicians were carried away with the sway and it took the intervention of her kids to allow the grand dame to rest.
MMEME ADIARI, CELEBRANTS’ DAUGHTER SPEAKS
I want to give God the glory. Actually what informed this celebration is that we had to look back retrospectively, over the years, especially in how the life of our mother has evolved over time. You’ll be surprised to hear that Doctors had given us frightening verdicts before, some told us she was not going to live over 40 years. In those years, we were in and out of hospitals. So we can’t thank God enough, it can only be God. So when our mother clocked 70, we the children put our heads together and resolved that it would be good to celebrate our mother. Now that she’s alive and marking her birthday and then our father, who has exercised patience all the years that my mother was sick. We’re aware of so many advice from associates to leave her, do away with her and so forth. But my father had one word for them, he always told them, I didn’t marry her a sick woman. Now when my mother clocked 70, we said, yes, this man has passed through a lot so as we celebrate Mum’s birthday, we also decided to celebrate their 55 years of marriage. God made it possible for today and we are grateful to them. We hope this will ginger other youths here to share in the promise of the commandment that enjoins us to honour our parents.
K.O. BABA BROUGHT DOWN THE ROOF
K.O. Baba is one of the big standup comedians who are making waves in the South South area, especially in Port Harcourt. He had a few minutes to demonstrate why he was regarded as one of the best as he kept Governor Dickson and the guests reeling in laughter.
THE ARMED FORCES HONOURED ONE OF THEIR OWN
Apart from politicians and socialites, one constituency that was at the Anyanya event in their numbers, is the military. They came to support one of their own, Major Lancelot Anyanya (Rtd). One impressive aspect of their presence, was that the other guests hardly knew, it was the top military brass, grooving with them, as their aides who were in uniform were kept outside with only the men resplendent in their various attires, mingled with the civilians throughout the event.
MEET THE VERY BEAUTIFUL DORIS ANYANYA
She’s a drop dead gorgeous beauty. She’s also an accomplished hostess. This she demonstrated at the double celebrations of her parents in-law as she moved about with her train to ensure everything moved smoothly. Meet the adorable Mrs. Doris Anyanya, the better half of Major Lance Anyanya Rtd. Her husband disclosed that she was the Chief Organizer of the whole event and had put in sleeplessness nights to ensure the event went well. “People need tolerance in marriage and patience. It takes a heavy dose of love and forgiveness to stay married together for 55 years. I want to thank God for my father in-law because he’s a very kind and compassionate man. He remained faithful and supportive of my mother in-law, when she went through sickness, he remained with her and he loves her, everybody associated with her, all her people. She too has been committed to him all the years. We thank God for their lives, for their children and I must say it’s based on the training they gave their children, it shows in their behavior and that’s what attracted me to my husband, I thank God for my husband, my sweetheart of 19 years. We wish them many more years as we pray that God will keep them in good health, give them sound mind and let them live long to see their great-great grandchildren”.
WITH LOVE FROM ATABA KINGDOM
To demonstrate how high the Ataba Kingdom of Rivers State hold the Anyanyas, the indigenes of the kingdom was at the event in their droves. The people were led to the event by their king, his royal highness, According to the king, Elder Anyanya is a prominent son of the kingdom who has served his people meritoriously and had brought up many who are leaders in several endeavours. He also spoke glowingly about Elder Mrs. Lois Anyana who as a teacher laid the foundation for many prominent sons and daughters of the Ataba Kingdom. In the words of HRH Sir Benson Egwenre JP, King Oruks XVII, the Okan-Ama of Ataba Kingdom, “It is not child’s play to be in a marriage for 55 years, it is not easy to attain the ages of 85 and 70, like the celebrants have done. I want us to take away two things from this event. First, we must love God, trust Him to handle our affairs and build our families in Christian principles, so that the children after us will follow our steps. What we’re seeing here is celebrating God. We’re celebrating what God can do for those who love and trust him”.
CELEBRANTS SPEAK TO HSM
ELDER MRS ANYANYA
I thank God for his mercy that has sustained me up to 70 years. I thank Him for the grace to live with my husband for 55 years. It’s awesome. It’s not by our making, it’s only by his grace. To him be all the glory.
ELDER ANYANYA
Marriage is another university. From when I got married to my wife, my mother tutored me in endurance. She told me look, I don’t ever want to hear of any fighting. Those teachings stuck with me. From time to time, she was checking on us. You know women, my wife like any other woman can be unpredictable, but you must realize that once you say I do, you have to remain there in good times and bad times. You also know that the Bible commands that husbands should love their wives. What these children have done for us today is unprecedented. I’m so happy and I pray that God will never leave them unguarded forever. Blessings shall flow all around them from generation to generation.
ROLL CALL
Some of the dignitaries who graced the event were, HRH Sir Benson Egwenre JP, King Oruks XVII, the Okan-Ama of Ataba Kingdom, former Minister of Transport, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, Commissioner for Education, Bayelsa State, Hon. Obuebite Jonathan, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bayelsa State, Hon. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Commissioner for Agriculture, Bayelsa State, Hon. Doodie Weeks, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division Port Harcourt, Major General Eneobong Udoh, Squadron Leader Adefolaju Amo Rtd and Commodore Bolaji Orederu, amongst many others.
