Would You Marry A Person of Different Religion?Okon Story

Would You Marry A Person of Different Religion?Okon Story
In an ever increasing world of divorce and scarcity of suitable life partner(s) ,It becomes pertinent to ask this
all important question “ would you marry a  Man/Lady Outside your Religious Belief”

Okon and Femi are truly in love and ever since they came to know themselves after their service years  back in the ,90’s .They have dreaming about the life after their wedding, but little did they know that it will all become a mirage.

Hear the full story, Okon has always been the boy in the house and the apple of his parents eyes, he is very obedient and a charming fellow, throughout his primary and secondary schools education, he always come out first in the class and have become the envy of both boys and girls in the class.

After his secondary education, he got admission into the department of Architecture in the University of Lagos Nigeria. He made second class upper division and immediately after service was able to secure job with a leading construction company in the country with a fat salary. He said to himself that it is time to settle down by way of marriage and have decided that it has to be Femi a young dazzling lady whom he met during her service year.

At this time Femi has equally secured a job but not as high paying as okon. When the proposal finally came to Femi in a beautiful garden in one of the highly patronized hotel in Lagos Island, she whole heartily accepted the proposal having found in Okon the man of her dream.

However, when Okon went home to inform his parents about his decision to marry and that he has found his missing rib, the mother was so happy but the father who is more reserved inquired from him who that lady is and her parents. At the mention of Femi the father shouted alas!, you want to tell that there are no beautiful ladies from this town that makes your choice but a Yoruba and at the same time a Moslem, please spare me the agony of untimely death as I am not in any way in support of this your plan. On hearing this from the father, Okon becomes devastated as he has always had the confidence of his father who is also proud of him. However, the mother in a soft tone inquired from Okon when all this started and to appeal to him to look homeward as she is not comfortable with marrying a Moslem, if it is only the issue of being a westerner, she could have had a second thought but marrying a Moslem to her is like shooting yourself on the leg, come to it what name should the children bear and where will they worship? Because I am a mother and I know the influence of mothers on their children.

At this juncture, Okon became more confused but he remembered the fond memories of the good times he had with Femi, he became even more perplexed. He cut short his visit to his village and announced to his parents that he is going back immediately but that Femi is the woman he love and will marry. Back in Lagos Okon did not tell Femi all that have transpired between him and his parents instead he inquired from Femi if she has informed her parents and to know their response. It took her a century to summon courage and narrated to Okon all the opposition she met from her parents more especially her father. At this juncture Okon opened up and told her his own similar experience, they began to make plans to cement their relationship outside their parents consent, they opted for court marriage and that their children when they arrive are free to follow either of them in the religious belief without any undue influence.

A date was fixed and preparations in top gear as they intend to invite only close friends and acquaintances to witness the ceremony.
The wedding is billed to start at 9.00am at the court registry and as providence will have it, Okon received a phone call at 8.30am informing him about the demise of his father, he was thrown to the world of the unknown when he finished answering the call, the die is cast…..what is he to do at this juncture? Please advise Okon by way of your comment