Clerics and their spouses are perceived as role models in all ramifications, but several cases of divorce and marital problems even among clerics have complicated issues in Christendom. What must the Church do on the ugly trend?
The three things that cause problem in any marriage are communication, sex and money. I have discovered that many people don’t learn to communicate; we only talk at each other. You don’t have to yell at another to pass a message. It has to be balance communication, even at church and in the home. If we learn to season our words, we will definitely have a happy home. On sex, I know that people don’t like to openly comment on it, because they feel it could affect their spiritual lives. But that is deceptive. Holy or not, saved or unsaved, even animals cannot reproduce without sex. Everything except amoeba is sexual in nature, but we try to deny it. The act of not having the boldness to express your feelings to your spouse when you want sex even as a cleric is a mis-normal in marriage. The Bible makes it clear in 1Corintians 7 vs 5, but we play game with it in this part of the world and this has caused problems in many homes. When we start talking about it extensively and managing it right, there would be less sexual scandals in the church. Lastly, we need to learn about money management. A pastor, who has money and thinks the church takes precedent over his family is not getting it right. Most pastors’ children don’t do ministerial work, especially when their parents are poor. It is easier for notable pastors’ children to take after their father because the recourses are there; it is otherwise for some unpopular clerics. This should not occur if we know how to manage money. There is nothing bad for a minister of God to venture into some legitimate businesses. Aside my calling I own a publishing company. I write books too. I am also into real estate in the United States and poultry. It is very bad for clerics to expose their spouses and children to dangers because of money. I call it money commonsense.
As a cleric, you should be deeply worried about the prevailing socio-economic solution in the country or are you contented with the state of the affair?
No. I want to make it clear to Nigerian youths that our government has failed us over and over again. This is the only country that you are required to serve government for one year after leaving school. This is a country where an old man and woman will use their retirement fund to send their last born to school from another tribe and someone will kill such child and the only thing you see is the casket. These are the younger ones you mandate to serve you and you have no plan for their future. Does that make sense? The same set of people are recycling themselves at the corridors of power. What happens to the millions of graduates from institutions of higher learning? So, I am not comfortable with it. I don’t have problem with the political parties; our problem is not politics; it is the individuals and policies. There is a difference between policy and party. The real problems are people like me. Though it may sound strange, we (preachers) are the real problem. We started it years ago condemning politics and discouraging our people from participating in it actively. Now, people that are ungodly dominate our political system and it is almost impossible for us to penetrate. It was high time we all rose to correct our errors, because Nigeria has abundant talents.
It seems you are passionate about youths. How have you been able to contribute to their development?
This is part of my mission to Nigeria and I am happy I was able to impact in them, as well as raised hope for a brighter future through the programme we organised at Mauve21 Event Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State. It is painful that Nigeria is not giving the younger generation the opportunity to explore their talents in their fatherland. A lot of young Nigerians are leading and investing in other countries. I ask myself, what can a 75-year-old man offer a 22-year-old one? The president did not reflect the reality when he said that Nigerian youths are lazy. Most surviving young Nigerians are self-developed and autodidactic, as well as succeeding. I think there will be hope when we start shouting and creating opportunities for our future generations, otherwise we might be treading on a precious path, because those responsible for worsening societal vices will bear children to co-exist with well-brought up young ones. I charge all Christian leaders to stand up to promote Nigerian youths. We need to keep encouraging them, let them realise that the future is in their hands.
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