04/10/2022
Once it trends in Nigeria, all over social media, in public places, everybody adds voice and becomes 'Chief adviser' on the issue.
Now it is the Ekwueme singer and everywhere you turn, everyone has turned marriage counselor and divorce advocate in the face of abuse.
I support the same too. Nobody should die in the hands of anybody in the name of marriage. Marriage is to be enjoyed mutually, not endured exclusively.
Just that I hate the double standard.
Remember, just some days ago, the news of Julius Agwu's wife's separation and remarriage surfaced. The woman was blasted by many people, especially men, until different news overshadowed it. Most men shamed her and quoted the "For Better or Worse" memory verse that is not found in any religious text! Few peope wanted her to be separated from a philandering husband, because he was sick and she was saddled to exclusively endure the matter like a "true" soldier of Christ, bearing her pains.
Well, to the Ekwueme singer, she did what religious society demanded of her. She stayed in the marriage, maybe because she knows that if she had divorced, most of the churches won't have endorsed her music or allow her perform on their "holy of holiest" altars.
Recall what happened to Sammie Okposo when the news came forth that he had an affair outside his marriage. He was verbally stoned online because he came clean. A megachurch in Abuja was fast to rescind his performance or sorry, ministration because he was not fit as a vessel, maybe for not hiding his deeds well as many others does.
The double standard of religion, especially among penticostals in Nigeria is a cankerworm that has eaten too deep into the tree. Many religious ministers of high public standing are double edged crooks. They have baby mamas, lovers and concubines that would never be known or believed should they try to come public.
Are we not aware of some churches whose pastors have been accused with evidence and they have staunch members and stout believers defended their crimes? Some even have r**e cases and s*x offenses that have been swept under and muffled in the name of "persecution on God's servant"
In Nigeria, especially among penticostals, you can insult Christ and no one will shout but if you dare to speak against church founders, church denominational doctrines you would have diehard members come for your head!
Many churchgoers respect, revere, deify and fear their 'papas' more than the God they claim to worship. And these church leaders are aware of it and use it as a manipulation edge. They will never frown or condemn such actions and this breeds a fearful cult that are cyber terrorists. They would rather praise their members like a bad mother who supports her violent teenager to beat up her age mate in a quarrel.
All these are sad. We must learn to say what is true irrespective of who is involved and however highly or lowly-placed in the society. In all areas of life, we must choose truth, life, love and happiness no matter what religious people or society will say.
~ Mark Ugo
