The morning after the wedding, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere found himself dealing with something he clearly did not expect to wake up to.
The Omega Power Ministries founder, who officiated and facilitated the marriage of his autistic ward Aboy Chibuzor to an older woman on Sunday, March 29, said he was flooded with messages on Monday morning claiming that the woman who had just married Aboy was a virgin. Rather than let the rumour spread unchecked, the apostle said he left his house immediately and headed straight to the Golden Tulip hotel, a five-star establishment where he had lodged the newlyweds on their wedding night, to get the facts directly from the bride herself.
What followed was a short but clarifying conversation that he apparently captured on video and shared publicly.
Standing before the camera with the woman present, Apostle Chibuzor asked her plainly: “Please, are you a virgin?”
Her answer was equally plain. She told him she was not a virgin, and went further to explain exactly why. She is a mother of three children, she said, and the father of those children has passed away.
She also shared a bit of her background during the exchange. The bride disclosed that she is from Edo State on her father’s side, specifically from the Esan area, while her mother hails from Rivers State. She said she grew up in Rivers State, which accounts for much of her upbringing and identity.
The clarification appears to have been important to the apostle, who has been at the centre of significant public debate since the idea of finding a wife for Aboy first went viral. The initial proposal drew heavy criticism from Nigerians who felt the arrangement was exploitative toward women, though Chinyere later apologised and maintained that his intention was simply to provide companionship and full-time care support for the young man, who is non-verbal and requires assistance with daily activities including feeding and bathing.
On the wedding day itself, Chinyere announced a package for the couple that included ten million naira, a house, an overseas vacation, and a promise of twenty million naira after ten years should Aboy still be alive. Members of his congregation also made additional cash donations on the day.
The apostle has expressed strong faith that Aboy’s condition will improve, saying he believes the young man will begin speaking within six months and pointing to what he described as an early miracle, noting that Aboy has started feeding himself without assistance since the wedding.
