Aguba on arrival at the OPM Church following invitation by Apostle Chinyere
By Nnedinso Ogaziechi
I had as a teenager protested to some of our extended family (Umunna and Umuada) over the persistent attempts to ‘marry’ wives for some of the ‘not too buoyant (often a euphemism for loafers who wasted their youth) family members. My argument then was always:
“What exactly is the point marrying a wife for someone who can barely feed himself, who would feed the wife and children if they get any and give them the necessities of life?” Most times, the response would be, ‘enee, Nne sef, do you want him to just die without a child?’ I would always insist that a man who cannot get a partner to marry personally and fund his wedding/marriage has no business being ‘coerced or helped’ to marry. I saw it then and still believe today it’s a mere enslavement of the vulnerable women so married.
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In any case, most of those married in such ways ended up depending on some family members for sustenance. I believe that the best that can be done in such cases is to sponsor such men to learn skills (but in most cases, they might have failed at most attempts to set them up with businesses), and you ask, why is marriage expected to be different? So in my teenage mind and even today, what the hell is a man who cannot sustain himself getting married and bearing children for? My argument has not changed. Economic sustainability is not all that is required in marriage. What of the emotional and other things that viable relationships demand?
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This socio-cultural aberration has naturally sipped into religion/churches. That is why most preaching by pastors/priests is focused on subjugating the woman in every way, they are the ones that are dragged out to be prayed for for husbands, they are reminded to be physically and sexually ‘submissive’ to their husbands in wedding day sermons (and no one teaches the man the ingredients of good romantic relationships), they are the ones being called out for prayers for ’bareness’ or euphemistically called ‘fruit of the womb’. They are the ones being coerced to pray for cheating husbands, I doubt that men are called out for ‘fruit of the testicles’. Most clerics do not advise couples to seek medical attention. We know why.
So the Apostle Chinyere of Omega Power Ministry in Port Harcourt recently assisted an indigent actor, Kenneth Aguba with a house, a promise of feeding and wait for it, to marry a wife for him! He promised to marry a wife for him!? My question is, given the status of the man, why is marriage an ‘icing’ on the cake of the good things the pastor promised or have done for the man? If the man is well enough to want a wife, why is the apostle promising to marry for him? Could he not have just assisted him to be comfortable and stable then allow him choose to or not to marry and make his choices?
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Then the most outrageous aspect for me, below are the incredible conditions! In simple terms, the pastor or apostle is seeking to get a s.l.a.v.e for the man who will have no rights, who would be bound by his ‘decrees’ just because he is a cleric.
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As for the ladies falling over themselves to marry the man, it is a matter for another piece. It is obvious that some ladies themselves need some psychiatric evaluation.
Make no mistake about it, I got to read about this Pastor after he relocated the family of the Deborah lynched for alleged blasphemy. I loved the very thoughtful gesture and wrote about it thanking him, however, I do not think that a million good deeds can alter a wrong action that diminishes any human, male or female. You can’t ride on philanthropy to push the levers of crass misogyny. No, it is wrong. Marriage is more serious than it is being made to appear socio-religiously in the society.
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There are just actions that defy logic.
Conditions given by Apostle Chinyere for Aguba’s future wife…
“Any beautiful lady that says she is ready to marry the actor, OPM will sponsor such marriage free of charge but, with terms and conditions.
Below are the conditions of marriage:
1. “You must live with him for ten years after wedding without separation or divorce. Meaning; both of you must live together for 10 years. After 10 years, you are free to either remain in marriage or divorce.
2. You shall operate a joint account for the business OPM is opening for both of you. Meaning: For any bank withdrawals, both of you must go to the bank together.
3. You must never deny him access to perform his conjugal rights after wedding.
4. A team from the church would be visiting your home once in a month to ensure that everything is going on well and peaceful.
For any lady that agrees to these conditions, send your phone number so we can commence the marriage process then, move forward.”
And no government agency sees nothing wrong with this? What are the state and federal agencies in charge of social welfare and human rights doing? Many Nigerian churches/pastors abroad have often been sanctioned or totally closed down for stepping beyond the boundaries set to protect citizens. In Nigeria, all clerics across creeds often violate the rights of citizens and even in some cases deaths have been recorded due to the negligence of clerics with no consequences.
Why are we so blessed?
© Nnedinso
July 9, 2022
