Exclusive: Blue-eye couple holds engagement, Sunday

By Mumini AbdulKareem
The engagement of the blue-eye couple, Risikat Moromoke Azeez and her husband, Abdulwasiu has been fixed for Sunday in Ilorin, National Pilot learnt on Sunday.
The issue of their non engagement had dominated discussion of the intervention of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari and the parents and representatives of both families at the last settlement talks brokered by the royal father held on Tuesday at Ayegbami, Okelele area of Ilorin.
Although both families with the leadership of the Ilorin Emirate Youth Descendant Progressives Union (IEYDPU) who were the Emir’s emissaries at the meeting agreed to the union of the couple, the need for a low-key engagement was reemphasised by all parties devoid of much fanfare and razzmatazz.
In separate interviews with this medium, the both Risikat and Abdulwasiu said that are yet to agree on date for the engagement adding that they await the emir pick a date to have the ceremony.
But Speaking on the issue with National Pilot on Sunday, a top member of the IEDPU leadership who was part of the peace talks confirmed that the families have agreed to hold the engagement on Sunday.
According to IEDPU official, “I can confirm to you that the engagement (yigi) has been scheduled for Sunday. We were informed about it by the families on the development and we have started to put necessary arrangement to ensure it was successful but on a low-key. We don’t want it celebrated as much because you will agree with me that this ought to have come up before not after they have gotten two children”, the source added.
Abdulwasiu in a telephone chat on Sunday reiterated his love for his wife adding that it is his wish that their next child will also be blue eyed.
While appreciating the numerous interventions by well meaning Kwarans, he further solicited for the continuous financial assistance of all and sundry to help the family go back to their normal live again.
Also Risikat who was besides Abdulwasiu during the chat said she has nothing more to say since the emir has intervened adding she has accepted to reunite with her husband.
While denying that she has denounced Islam as speculated by some people because of some of her recent photo shots, Risikat said it was the emir and not the first lady of Kwara, Mr Olufolake Abdulrazaq that made the engagement possible.
When contact, the President of the IEYDA and National Publicity Secretary, Abdullahi Babatunde Salauden and Mohammed Uthman Jaguma respectively rallied support for the couple adding that the Emir of Ilorin is very much interested in the peace settlement of the issue for them to continue to love and plan their lives together again.
According to Salaudeen, who said there have so far been three meetings with the couples and their parents, “the issue needs the intervention of everybody. When we learnt of it on social media, we didn’t really know the root of the matter. We then took a critical look at it and discovered that the husband did not abandon his wife and ran away as was being speculated. Then our Emir asked us to go and find out what is really happening and we should try and monitor the situation for a positive outcome.
“We met the husband, Risikat and their parents and we discovered it was just misunderstanding between the couple and not that they have divorced. But we are happy that with the help of Almighty Allah Who used the emir of Ilorin, we have been able to resolve it. They have both admitted their faults and promised to move on with their lives that such will never happen again and put their trust in Allah for everything”, he added.
According to Jaguma, “The impression the people have over the issue because of how it has been reported in social media is not true without carrying out proper finding.
“What we first heard was that the husband absconded because of her blue eyes. When we later made our findings, we discovered that the blue eyes were never the issue. The husband never made mention of it, so it is an insult to the city of Ilorin with what people are saying.
“What happened between the couple is not strange to any couple or household, settlement is what is required for us to do between couples and that is what our association did through our Emir of Ilorin who gave is the go ahead to look at the situation of things and settle it.
“We want to implore other well meaning people that want to render assistance to know the kind of assistance they need. If you want to assist the couple in this instance, it’s not a matter of travelling abroad or sending their children to expensive schools. They shouldn’t feed them they teach them how to make a living for themselves.
“We thank those individuals and organizations that have responded to the situation like the Wife of the Governor, Mrs Olufolake Abdulrazaq, former first lady, Toyin Saraki, FOMWAN, Prof Aishah and other individuals, clerics and dignitaries to numerous to mention and others will to till render assistance.
“But they should all make sure that the assistance they want to render should be an enduring one, that they will be able to cater for their needs and not one that will mortgage their future. We want to thank the emir of Ilorin specifically”, he noted.
He said IEYDA has resolved to also empower the couple and reach out to the well meaning Kwarans at home and Diaspora over their situation.
“We have branches all around Ilorin. In Okelele branch under which Dada community is a part, we have called the leadership of the branch and handed over the couple to them so they can assist them through the community.”