Anietie Udobit
The National Christian Centre (National Ecumenical Center)
was filled up with guests, associates, friends and admirers of Lois Auta, on
Sunday December 01, 2019.
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A physically challenged crusader and politician, Lois Auta
got wedded to Innocent Patrick Udonkanta, in a grand style.
According to the officiating Minister, Rev. Mike Agbon, it
was the first in the history of the Centre, to have conducted a special holy matrimony,
between a man and a lady who is physically challenged.
“Certainly, the event is an unusual one, it is the first
time, you know we have marriages here often, but is the first time we are
having a marriage here on a Sunday service and a marriage between a man and a
lady who is physically challenged, we look up to that kind of union.
“We felt it would be a wonderful time to be able to come
together and encourage men in that category who are physically challenged to
let everybody know that the decision of the groom is not just the expression of
love, it also goes ahead to show that in spite of whatsoever challenge any
person will have that those challenges are not limitations.
“And that they could actually live a normal life, have a normal love life, and have a normal
matrimonial home, inspite of whatsoever physical challenge they have.
The bride, Lois Auta, who is the founder and Chief Executive
Officer of Cedar Seed Foundation, an organization at the forefront of the
advocacy for inclusiveness for people with disabilities (PWD), expressed
gratitude to God, adding that her marriage to the groom is her dream come
through.
She said the love between her and the groom started in July
2018 when a friend introduced him as her campaign manager, when she ran for the
House of Representatives for AMAC/BWARI federal constituency, under the
platform of ACCORD party, during the 2019 elections.
“He proposed to marry me during the Campaign, and after due
scrutiny, I accepted. I felt excited because it was a dream come through,” she
laughed.
“I gave up in marriage, but God said am not done with you
yet, becoming the wife of Mr. Innocent (groom) is one of my dreams.”
Auta said her dream is to have a happy home, a heaven on
earth matrimonial home, a home based on Godly affairs and a home that is ready
to touch humanity.
She revealed that she sees her disability as a blessing and
not a barricade, and that her disability can never stop her from becoming a
good wife and mother not only to her family but to the nation entirely.
The bride said that she being a social entrepreneur and with
the husband by her side they are going to do exploit, adding that disability
and love are of different perspectives.
She therefore advised that people should begin to see women
with disabilities as good wives and good mothers.
The groom, Mr. Innocent Patrick said that he noticed her
innocence, simplicity and childlike sincerity that is why he could not let her
go.
He advised other men who may find themselves in similar
situation, not to undermined people with disabilities as most of them are more
capable and active than those without disabilities.
“My message to other men who may find themselves in similar
situation is that with her, I have come to see that most of those we branded
disable are in fact more capable, more active, so we should not undermined
them,” he advised.
It was a historic event as all the bride maids were
physically challenged.