To be so bent on marriage, to pursue a man merely for the sake of situation, is a sort of thing that shocks me: I cannot understand it. Poverty is a great

but to a woman of education and feeling it ought not, it cannot be the greatest -Jane Austen, The Watsons (c.1804).
HAVE you seen the announcement by the elders of Ekpeye Clan in Ahoada Local Government Area of Rivers State? If you are a bachelor in search of a wife, or a married man in search of a second wife (for whatever reasons whatsoever), please start heading towards Ahoada, where the elders in deference to the pull of market forces, are offering a generous discount on bride price. According to their announcement, anyone who wants a wife can now get one from Ahoada with a smile! Ekpeye Women for Sale!. We offer good bride price! Enjoy the discount while it lasts! Offer is on first come, first served basis!
Lest you think I am making this up, then please read The Vanguard newspaper of January 24, 2006, p.8. The relevant story is titled "Community woos suitors for "overripe" spinsters - slashes bride price to N15,000". The traditional ruler of the Ugboji Clan of Ekpeye Eze Innocent Odum, concerned that his kingdom is littered with grown-up girls of marriageable age, who in spite of their beauty, education and good breeding, could not find anyone to marry them, decided to set up a committee titled "The Bride Price Committee". Its term of reference was to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the seeming inability of Ekpeye babes to attract men and to make appropriate recommendations to correct the situation.
http://odili.net/news/source/2006/jan/27/71.html