Nigeria’s online space ignited on Christmas Day after family members of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, announced his marriage to Queen Zaynab Otiti-Obanor the former wife of the Ooni of Ife.
The Akume Dajoh family confirmed the marriage in a Facebook post shared by Abraham Double-d Dajoh, describing Zaynab as an “uncommon wife” and officially welcoming her to “the Dajoh family, the Mbakor community of Benue State, and the Tiv nation.” The post included several photos of the couple and well-wishers, calling on supporters to celebrate “His Excellency’s beautiful union.”
Queen Zaynab, widely known during her previous marriage to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, became a national figure in 2016 when the royal wedding dominated Nigerian media. Their marriage ended in 2017, after which she relocated to Doha, pursued humanitarian work with the United Nations, and was later linked to a wealthy Middle Eastern prince. Reports claimed she had a daughter in 2022, but she largely remained out of Nigeria’s spotlight until now.
Akume, a longtime political heavyweight and former governor of Benue State, now occupies one of Nigeria’s most powerful administrative posts under President Bola Tinubu. The newly revealed marriage between the SGF and a former Yoruba queen has become one of the most talked-about stories of the festive season, trending across X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram as Nigerians react to the country’s latest high-profile power couple.
