The Spate Of Divorce In Nigeria Pastors, Entertainers, Others... Okechukwu Onuegbu

Some years back, marriage used to be a sacred institution: a union between a matured man and a woman who may have divergent views of life but deemed it fit to live together as husband and wife due to love. Then, even though some married more than one wife yet less battery, infidelity and divorce were witnessed equivalently to biblical injunctions of “till death do us part” enshrined in Books of Genesis 2; 1 Timothy 3v1-4; 1Timoty 3v5; Matthew 5v31-32; Malachi 2v6/7; and Proverbs 31v10-31.

In primeval Africa precisely, marriage was so reverenced, as married couples were cherished and viewed to be most responsible people in their societies. Sequel to this, advices were sort from the married at families and public issues/functions while the bachelors' and spinsters were neglected and often regarded as "irresponsible, useless and foolish persons".

As at then, it was not uncommon to see couples beneath 18years enjoying honeymoon without experiencing uprising or black-out till death even though that most of them were betrothed by their parents. A-Lagos state based Lawyer; Mrs. Yemi Ajayi earmarked that marriage then was a worthwhile venture among traditional, Christians and Muslims.

However, the advent of 21sth century marked the end of an epoch in marriage institution in Nigeria and in the world at large as the divine institution automatically transformed in nature and definition and diversified into unlimited categories such as "gay marriage, multiple wedding, co-habitation, white wedding, and court wedding among others".

Well, this report focused mainly on divorce/broken homes in Nigeria.

The spate of divorce in Nigeria soared as high as an eagle in recent time. A situation whereby a man and a woman tie the knot before God and man today opt for divorce in the court less than a minute amidst of unchaste, misunderstanding, Suspicious movement, loggerheads and battery.

A recent research shows that there are pending cases of divorce in various courts in Nigeria. Buttressing this facts, Legal Practitioners in Lagos state earlier this year decried the high rate of divorce in the country attributing it to intolerance, infidelity and battery.

Inline with this, A-Marriage Councilor, Mrs. Taiwo Olanrewaju postulated that "marriage institution is gradually falling in Nigeria as a result of high rate of marriage cases terminating annually in the law court".

Also, in my residency- an estate inhabiting more than 80 people, about 80% occupants are divorcee including the Landlord (a pastor in one of the Pentecostal churches in Awka, Anambra state) who might soon rid-off his third wife as he brutalizes her on daily basis.

Similarly, the high-profile of Men of God divorcee is worrisome. Among Divorce Pastors are John Hagee (the founder of Charismatic Trinity Church) who divorced his wife (a mother of 2 kids) and remarried one of his congregations; A-Lagos based Pastor, Ope Balogun who worked to court earlier this year seeking divorce of his ninth wife who he described as “ a troublesome wife”.

Others include Pastor Chris Okotie of Household of God Church who had thrown his marriage rings twice; The Founder of Communion Church, Lagos, Bishop David Benecoch sent-away his wife after 20years of wedlock claiming that God instructed him to do so; Pastor Goodness Enemchukwu of Jesus World Church Lagos who breakup with his wife of 26 years while the late Pastor Philip Mokungah (the founder of Oasis Church in Plateu state) experienced it before death...

Also, the endless list of dissolved homes inhabit notable Nigerian Business Moguls, Celebrities and Entertainers such as Mr. Ifanyi Ararume Jnr. (son of Senator Ararume) who dissolved his wedding which attracted prominent personalities in Nigeria within 2 weeks; Chief Kessington Adebutu popularly known as “Bab Ijebu” walked-out from his heartthrob Rosemary; the son of Paschal Dozie of Diamond Bank, Chikozie within 4 months.

Relatively, son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr. Gbenga ended with Moji in 2006; just as the daughters of former military head of state/President, Gen. Sani Abacha and Ibrahim Babangida (Zainab Abacha and Aishat Babangida) had once or twice dissolved their union believed to was inspired by each of their parents.

Top movie stars and Entertainers indicted by this ugly phenomenon are Pastor Ure Okezie, Rita Dominic, Soul E; Jennifer Eliogu; Doris Simeon; Daniel Ademinokan; Moses of Nollywood; Benjamin; Bukky Wright; Ayo Adesanya to mention but a few.

What facilitate divorce in Nigeria?
Some factors facilitating broken homes in Nigeria are so numerous to mention but a good number of them were triggered as a result of couples quest for materialism, marrying for economic reasons, women emancipation, sexual aparty/dissatisfaction, parental/family and intrusion of third parties on what God has joined together, barrenness, provocation and brutalization, suspicious movements and infidelity.

According to a marriage councilor, Dr. Eunice Iheanacho “today's better-half are full of impatient, pride, lack of understanding, and compatibility”.

However, the effects of divorce cannot be underscore because one divorce leads to another just as trading of words sometimes lead to a fight. Thus, the reasons you hardly see a broken home or a divorcee who ever enjoy a happy home without recording second or more divorce before death. Furthermore, researches have shown that parted couples are prone to lack of concentration, loss of job, drug addiction, smoking, prostitution, sickness, suicide or untimely death even as their children often end-up in streets, social vices, hawking, begging, and unruly behavior due to what Psychologists termed "lack of parental love and care".

Supporting this fact, Lagos state based Legal Practitioners enjoined couples to show mutual understanding and tolerance to each other, while Barr.Vincent Nwana implored customary and magistrate courts to exhibit a level of discretion in handling divorce cases with a view to reducing it to a barest minimum in Nigeria.

Conclusively, Nigerian judiciary should embark on mass sensitization of the populace urging them to embrace court marriage as it involves much procedure before termination while our Parents, Religious and Educational institutions, Guardian and Counseling experts, Human Rights Activists, Governmental and Non-Governmental Organization should constantly organize marriage seminars with couples, bachelors and spinsters time without number in order to inculcate love and true concept of marriage into them.