Southerner Xtra
Prophet’s second wife announcement sparks debate over his marriage rules
My Aprokonation, na who talk say marriage matter no fit turn serious debate for church? One US-based clergyman, Prophet Israel Ford, and him first wife, Prophetess Lydia Ford, don get people talking after dem publicly introduce him second wife, Shakayla Ford, to their congregation on Sunday, October 25.
But the introduction na just the beginning, because the things wey the prophet talk afterwards don open another round of questions.
According to reports, Israel and Shakayla don marry for three years, but dem keep the union away from members of the congregation until the recent announcement.
The surprising part be say na Lydia herself get the honour to introduce Shakayla to the church, as she describe their family arrangement as “polygynous” and refer to the new wife as her “sister in marriage.” Lydia also talk say members of the church don benefit from Shakayla’s ministry over time.
As Shakayla take her turn to speak, she describe the occasion as a moment to address “the big elephant in the room.” She thank God for leading them in their marriage and maintain say, regardless of wetin people think about their arrangement, she believe say dem dey follow God’s will.
My people, you know say once marriage matter and Bible enter the same conversation, online in-laws no dey stay one place!
Prophet Israel later defend his decision to practise polygamy, arguing say teachings against the practice no align with his understanding of the Bible. When dem ask am whether Lydia and Shakayla fit also marry other men, him answer na no.
According to him, if any of his wives want another husband instead of him, dem go have to separate. He also explain say, for his understanding of marriage, a husband’s responsibility include being ready to die for his wife, while the wife’s own responsibility na to respect her husband.
Based on this belief, him argue say if him dey make such a sacrifice, that he expects commitment in return. He add say if na him want another partner, him and his wives fit decide whether to remain together or separate peacefully.
However, the prophet insist say na the rule wey him don set for his marriage. And as if that one no be enough to keep the internet busy, the prophet also addressed the biblical qualification that a church leader should be the “husband of one wife.” Israel maintain say him no be bishop or deacon, and argue say the instruction concerns people in certain leadership positions rather than every Christian.
He further compared the passage with the biblical instruction about women keeping silent in church, which he believes should be understood within its cultural context.
In his view, the “husband of one wife” requirement is also cultural. But whether other Christians go accept that interpretation na another matter entirely.
As expected, the comment section don turn another meeting ground for different opinions. One person react, “This one na pastor of particular concern o,” while another asked, “Is Christianity now a joke?” Somebody else argued, “Nothing fit shock me, Bible don talk all this things before them even start to dey happen.”
Another commentator, however, question the way the couple dey use scripture to defend their arrangement, saying, “This 3 people might be bisexual, make una enjoy but stop using the bible to defend ur fantasies”.
My people, this matter don move beyond who marry who, because the bigger argument now na how people interpret the Bible and whether the same marriage rules should apply to both partners.
While Israel and his wives don explain their position, the reactions show say not everybody dey see the arrangement the same way. As usual, the internet don bring its own pulpit, and everybody get sermon to preach!
“A Voice told me to do it” says man who killed m pregnant girlfriend
My Aprokonation, e get some news wey go reach you, you go just pause ask yourself wetin really dey happen for this world. For Uromi, Edo State, a 40-year-old man, Samson Ekata, don land inside police net over the alleged killing of him 18-year-old pregnant girlfriend.
The young woman reportedly dey eight months pregnant, and the details wey police reveal about wetin allegedly happen to her body don leave many people horrified.
According to the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, the suspect and the deceased had reportedly lived together for about one year before the incident. Police allege say Ekata killed the young woman, cut off one of her breasts and attempt to remove her unborn baby.
The commissioner disclose this on Wednesday, October 21, when police paraded the suspect alongside other people arrested for different offences. My people, the details of this case no easy to read, talk less of imagine wetin the young woman allegedly go through.
But na the suspect’s own explanation for the alleged killing dey raise another set of questions. While speaking with journalists, Ekata admit say na him kill the woman, but claim say na voices instruct am to do so.
According to him, he first resisted the instruction because the woman dey pregnant, but the same message come to am again in a dream about two weeks later.
He claimed say after the killing, the voice also instruct am to cut off her breast. He further maintain say na the first time wey him don commit such a crime. However, na his account of the incident be this, and the claim about spiritual influence no establish the actual reason behind the killing.
Ekata also reportedly disclose say he used one Toyota Corolla carry the woman’s body and then dumped it by the roadside. The police commissioner described the incident as horrific and expressed sadness over the death of the young woman and her unborn child.
He also credited members of the community for the information and assistance wey help police apprehend the suspect. According to the commissioner, the suspect go face the full weight of the law, while encouraging residents to continue sharing credible information with security agencies.
The case don also bring the issue of violence against women back into the conversation, with people expressing concern over the danger some women face inside relationships.
One commentator lament, “men hate women in this part of the world but no one wants to address it.” Another person react, “It keeps getting scarier everyday!!!”
Somebody else express frustration over what dem see as the growing problem of femicide and gender-based violence in Nigeria, saying, “I’m sick and tired of the alarming rise in femicide and gender-based violence in Nigeria.”
Another person warn, “At this point women should avoid men,” while one person advise, “Dear women, Please have deep communication with men before choosing who you are entrusting with your life.”
As police continue their investigation, the focus now dey on ensuring say the case receive proper legal attention and the suspect answer to the allegations against am. The young woman was just 18, with her unborn child still ahead of them, and both lives don end in circumstances wey police describe as horrific.
My people, whatever explanation the suspect give, na the investigation and the evidence wey emerge for court go help establish what truly happen.
Rapper Ms Jorji opens up about seven years of childhood sexual abuse
Sometimes, na the people wey suppose protect you go leave you to face your biggest pain alone. Na this kind painful experience Nigerian rapper Ms Jorji don open up about, as she reveal say her father allegedly sexually abuse her from when she dey around 11 years old until she turn 18.
But my people, wetin make the matter even more painful na her claim say instead of facing wetin happen, her family concern themselves with protecting her father’s image.
As she dey share her experience during one discussion, Ms Jorji explain say the abuse continued for seven years. She also talked about other women wey she know, including some of her workers, wey allegedly suffer sexual abuse from people dem suppose trust.
According to her, the alleged perpetrators include fathers, brothers, pastors and neighbours. “There is an epidemic that is going on in our country,” she said, as she raise alarm over what she sees as the disturbing spread of sexual abuse.
And the matter no stop for her own story. Ms Jorji also talk about one female friend wey she claim say somebody rape for Nigeria about three months ago. She say she spend around ₦1 million to get the police to begin investigating the case, but the matter still no reach any clear conclusion after the suspect allegedly run away.
But na her family’s response be the part wey really bring out another layer of the pain. According to Ms Jorji, instead of focusing on the alleged abuse and how to address am, the concern na to protect her father and the family name.
She recalled the words, “Protect my father, protect the image of the family.” My people, na so some families go dey worry about wetin outsiders go talk, while the person wey need their protection dey carry the pain alone.
Ms Jorji also challenged the belief say because person na your blood relative, you must remain with them no matter wetin happen. She explain say family no always mean people wey you share blood with; sometimes, na the people wey genuinely care about you and want to see you do well.
As she put am, “Family is not about blood. Family is the people who want the best for you and you can create family.” She also make am clear say being born into one family no mean say you must remain there when the people wey suppose stand by you fail to do so.
As the gist dey make rounds, some people don share their own reactions. One person wrote, “Being sexually molested for years by your blood father, can leave devastating psychological effect on the victim. I don’t blame you princess. I understand”.
Another person lament, “People who are meant to protect you, God have mercy”. One more commentator point out how childhood trauma fit affect people as dem grow older, saying, “Some people’s childhood trauma is the reason they behave the way they do and sometimes we wonder if they have anyone advising them, the truth is they have no one”.
My people, the painful lesson here no be only the abuse Ms Jorji say she experience, but also the silence and protection wey she claim follow am. When family reputation becomes more important than a person’s safety, the person wey need help fit end up feeling abandoned all over again.
