Family demands marriage before burial of woman who lived with lover for 30 years
…Father of five cries out
CITIZENS COMPASS— A family in Imo State has demanded that a man formally get married to his live-in-lover of 30 years before it can proceed with her burial arrangements.
The relationship was said to have produced five children before the woman passed on, about two months ago.
Citizens Compass reports that the man lived in Lagos with his lover of 30 years without paying her dowry.
A Facebook user, I AM Agatha, shared the man’s predicament on her page.
The man sought advice from social media users on the way forward.
It reads: I and my late wife, the mother of my children (I honestly don’t even know how best to address her now, because we were never married traditionally or legally) are both from Imo State.
We have lived in Lagos for over 30 years and have five children together. Since we met, we never went back to Imo State, and our children don’t even know our hometown. Lagos is all they’ve ever known.
My wife passed away two months ago, and her body is still in the mortuary because her family has refused to allow the burial unless I “marry” her, even in death. The truth is, I don’t have the money for that. In fact, she was the one taking care of the family, feeding us and handling most responsibilities. She sold vegetables at Iyana-Oba Market in Ojo.
Now, I am considering burying her here in Lagos without her family’s consent.
Please, I need advice
Will there be any issues if I go ahead?
