By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—THE Bini monarch, Oba Erediauwa and the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, weekend, urged parents to encourage inter-ethnic marriages in the country, saying that it will help in sustaining unity, because of the number of different ethnic groups in the country.

The Oba, who spoke through the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, at the wedding of the son of the Minister of State for Works, Dr Chris Ogienwonyi, in Lagos, weekend, stressed the need for unity, particularly now that the nation is close to another round of elections.

The wedding between Mr Eseosa Ogienwonyi and Ijeoma Ezinwanyi Nnadozie, was also graced by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, palace chiefs and other dignitaries

The Monarch said,  “everything possible must be done to sustain the unity of the country and things such as inter-ethnic marriages are very good because they show that we are all one as a nation and there is no need for discrimination or fighting ourselves.”

Mrs. Jonathan, meanwhile stressed the need for Nigerians to see themselves as one, saying that the nation would only experience accelerated development when there is unity.