For Oruebi Raymond Oyinmiebi, what happened at the river was not simply a ceremony.
It was the fulfilment of a bond he says began before he was old enough to understand it.
Raymond, a native of Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, says he has now formally acknowledged and accepted “Biniere,” whom he describes as his water goddess, as his wife.
According to reports, Raymond was betrothed to the water spirit from birth by his parents, making the relationship part of a spiritual and cultural tradition he inherited from previous generations.
Years later, Raymond returned to the river where, in his words, his forefathers and generations before them drank from.
There, he presented offerings and performed what he described as an acceptance of Biniere as his “dear and lovely wife, Biniebi,” while also acknowledging the traditional gods of his land.
For Raymond, the moment was deeply personal.
“Today, I returned to the river my forefathers and generations before them drank from,” he said, explaining that he came to acknowledge his Biniere and accept her as his wife.
He said he made the offerings with a sincere heart, believing the act opened the door to blessings, favour, good health, long life, prosperity and abundance.
His prayer was not only about material prosperity.
Raymond also prayed for protection from those who may wish him harm, while asking that he himself would continue to live peacefully and wish no one evil.
“May the Gods of our land guide my steps, protect me, bless me, and enrich all that concerns me,” he prayed.
He also asked for a peaceful home, a blessed path and a prosperous future.
For outsiders, the idea of a man describing a water spirit as his wife may appear unusual.
But for Raymond, the story is tied to ancestry, belief and an obligation he says was handed down to him from birth.
His account raises a deeper question about the traditions and spiritual beliefs that continue to shape the lives of people in riverine communities of the Niger Delta.
Beyond the photographs and the unusual headline, Raymond’s story is ultimately about a man returning to a place he considers connected to his roots—and publicly embracing a belief that he says has followed him since childhood.
Whether viewed through the lens of culture, spirituality or personal conviction, the ceremony has placed Raymond’s unusual journey in the public eye.
And for him, the prayer is simple:
May his path be blessed, his home peaceful and his future prosperous.
