A storm is brewing in the household of Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), following his recent marriage to Queen Zaynab Ngohemba-George Akume Dajoh, a former wife of the Ooni of Ife. The union, announced on the occasion of Akume’s 72nd birthday, has drawn a sharp and emotional response from his first wife, Hon. Mrs. Regina Akume.
In a televised interview with Together TV on Saturday, Mrs. Regina Akume—former First Lady of Benue State and current member representing Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency—publicly urged her husband to return to the Christian faith, attributing his political success to divine grace and warning that straying from religion could jeopardize his future.
Visibly emotional, Mrs. Akume stated:
“I pray the Lord grants him more years, sound health, and clarity of mind. But he must remember: it is Christianity that brought him this far. To abandon it now for anything else would be a grave mistake. I sincerely wish he returns to Christianity and follows the path of Christ. Our journey to the SGF office was guided by Jesus Christ—He is still alive, still working. My husband’s success depends on his faith.”
The plea comes just as the Dajoh family formally announced Akume’s marriage to Queen Zaynab—previously known as Zaynab Otiti Obanor—in a Facebook post by family representative Abraham Double-d Dajoh. The post celebrated Queen Zaynab as an “uncommon wife” and warmly welcomed her into the Dajoh family, the Tiv community, and Benue State at large.
Queen Zaynab is no stranger to public scrutiny. She was previously married to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, a union that ended amid widespread speculation. She later moved to Doha, Qatar, where she was reportedly linked to a wealthy Arab prince and gave birth to a daughter in 2022.
Her marriage to Senator Akume has not only revived interest in her marital history but also cast a spotlight on the SGF’s personal life at a time when he occupies one of the nation’s most influential positions.
The situation has exposed deepening familial and spiritual tensions within the Akume household, hinting at a rift that may extend beyond private disagreement into the public and political arena. Mrs. Regina Akume’s heartfelt and admonishing message has since gone viral, triggering intense debate across social and traditional media platforms about faith, marriage, power, and morality in high-ranking public service.
As congratulatory messages pour in for the SGF’s birthday and new marriage, the first wife’s words hang heavily in the air—a spiritual warning from a woman who has stood by her husband’s side through decades of public life.
Observers now watch closely to see how this domestic and spiritual conflict will unfold, and what it may mean for one of Nigeria’s most prominent political families.
