Glitz glamour as Ex-Gov. Donald Duke shut down Calabar for daughter
The festivity synonymous with December in Calabar, Cross River State was reenacted in April as the former Governor of the State, Mr. Donald Duke and wife, Onari, last weekend dragged the upper crust of the Nigerian high society to the ancient city when they hosted the traditional wedding of their daughter, Xerona and Derin Phillps, the son of Engineer Lanre and Chief (Mrs.) Teju Phillips and grandson of late international business magnate, Chief Antonio Deinde Fernandez.
The ceremony was held at the expansive mansion of the Dukes. It was the second part of the nuptials of Xerona and her beau, Derin, popularly known as DJ Caise.
The pair had their introduction ceremony in Lagos on October 14, 2017. And the bride’s parents treated their cross section of guests from the Nigeria’s political, business and royal elite to a classical display of an admixture of Efik and Yoruba cultures.
The dignitaries in attendance included Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II; HRM Edidem Ekpo Oto V, Obong of Calabar; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; Alhaji Aliko Dangote;
Aremo Olusegun Osoba; Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Mr. Wale Babalakin; Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi; Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu; ThisDay Publisher, Mr Nduka Obaigbena; Mr. Segun Awolowo; Mr. Francis Ogboro, John Obayuwana, Sam Iwuajoku and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa.
Visibly excited Duke took to his Instagram page to express his heartfelt joy over her baby daughter’s journey to matrimony: “Over the weekend, my wonderful daughter Xerona, traditionally married her beau Derin, in front of friends and family at our home in Calabar.
I can’t believe my baby girl of yesterday is off to start a family of her own! Welcome to the family Derin. We’re blessed and happy to have you.”
After the Calabar extravaganza, Xerona and Derin also had their court wedding on Tuesday while the grand finale (white wedding) will hold in the next few weeks. The groom, Derin announced his engagement to Xerona on Monday, August 29, 2017, in an Instagram post where he couldn’t seem to hold back his excitement.
