The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has formally taken a new wife, Queen Zaynab Ngohemba, the former spouse of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in a union that has now been publicly acknowledged by his family and confirmed by his spokesman.
The confirmation followed a celebratory social media post on Friday by Abraham Double-D Dajoh, a member of the influential Dajoh family of Mbakor, Benue State. The post announced that Queen Zaynab had been officially welcomed into the Dajoh family home, describing the marriage as both “beautiful” and “uncommon.”
In the widely shared statement, the family expressed collective joy at the union, noting that the former Olori of the Ife Kingdom had been ceremonially received in line with Tiv cultural traditions.
“We, the entire Dajoh Family, happily join our daddy, uncle and brother, His Excellency, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume Jugu Dajoh, in welcoming his new and uncommon wife, Queen Zaynab Ngohemba-George Akume Dajoh, into the Dajoh family,” the statement read.
The family also thanked Akume’s political associates and supporters for their loyalty, urging them to remain steadfast as he enters what they described as a new and significant chapter of his personal life.
Queen Zaynab, formerly known as Olori Wuraola during her marriage to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi, was married to the monarch for about 17 months before their union ended in 2017. Since then, she has remained a prominent public figure, known for humanitarian and social advocacy work.
In welcoming her, the Dajoh family underscored the importance of their ancestral heritage in Mbakor and the broader Tiv nation, describing Benue as the “Food Basket of the Nation” and Mbakor as a historic seat of leadership.
“Welcome to Benue State… welcome to Mbakor, the seat of leadership of the Tiv nation, and welcome to the Dajoh family, the home of your darling husband. Welcome home, Queen Zaynab,” the statement concluded.
The announcement, which coincided with the festive season, also carried goodwill messages to Nigerians, wishing them a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
While early reports suggested that the marriage ceremony took place on December 24, this was later clarified. Speaking with journalists on Friday, Akume’s spokesman, Yomi Odunuga, confirmed the union but dismissed claims that it was recently solemnised.
“I can confirm the marriage. However, contrary to the rumour that the marriage was concretised in Gboko on Christmas Eve, it is actually a marriage that is over one year old,” Odunuga said.
Akume, a former governor of Benue State and a long-standing political figure, currently serves as a central pillar of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
News of his marriage to Queen Zaynab has since dominated conversations across Nigeria’s social and political spaces, blending power, royalty, and tradition in a union that continues to attract national attention.
