In African Traditional Religion And In Christianity, Yul Edochie Is Guilty - Rev.Fr.Marcel Okwara

A Catholic priest, Reverend Marcel Blessed Okwara, has in his Facebook page, added his voice to Yul Edochie’s marriage saga

He wrote:

Since the popular actor, Yul Edochie, dropped the bombshell that he has another son from another woman, reactions from Nigerians home and abroad have been swift, mostly sentimental and somewhat unbearable for me. At first, I did not want to weigh in. Someone even wondered why I was silent about the matter. The question then is, “What changed it for me?” After reading with utter shock and consternation the many lame excuses and misleading responses of mostly Nigerian men about what Yul Edochie has done, I realized I have to say something, at least, to ‘save’ the ignorant. What are the men saying? While some applaud him for accepting the baby, others defend his taking of a second wife because he is an African man. They argue that as an African man, he is free to marry as many wives as he wants. They maintain that monogamy was imposed upon Africans by the colonial masters and the Christian missionaries. Some of them even cited our polygamous ancestors as the reference point to justify the deed of Yul. More to it, some disappointedly claim that since polygamy is in the Bible, there is nothing wrong with what Yul has done. 

But here is the problem with that line of argument. Yul Edochie is a Catholic Christian, and not an adherent of African Traditional Religion. He is not a Muslim either. But let’s assume he has silently renounced his Christianity and has since become a traditionalist, his action is still not praiseworthy. Why? I am one of those born in a less Christian evangelized society. I grew up in a mostly traditional society. At the time, many elders around me were traditionalist, not Christians. They worshipped Chi-ukwu or Chukwu (Supreme God), poured libations and used ofor during their prayers. As a young boy, I learned the process a traditional man followed before he married a second or third or fourth wife. I know the process my late uncle who professed Christianity but also believed in polygamy followed before he married his second wife. No upright traditional African man would bring a second wife home without first discussing with his first wife or other wives and at least try to convince her or them to allow him to marry again. No true traditional man would bring a second wife home without first informing his brothers, sisters and kinsmen, and of course, getting their approval. If Yul Edochie has become a traditionalist, he did not follow this respectful and diligent process that our traditional ancestors followed. He deeply disrespected his wife. He dishonored her, and disgraced his family, especially his legendary father, Pete Edochie. 

If Yul Edochie has not renounced his Christianity, then he has flaunted Jesus’ teaching on marriage by secretly taking a second wife. About the kind of marriage approved by God and taught by Jesus our Redeemer, this is it: “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?” (Matthew 19:4-5). 

As for those who applaud Yul Edochie for accepting the baby, I am in agreement with you but only half way. I commend him for admitting paternity of the handsome baby, however, such acceptance does not canonize the act. Accepting that he is the father of the boy does not now make him a hero or a saint. In African Traditional Religion and in Christianity, he is still guilty of adultery. Period! The end does not justify the means. While we commend him for accepting the baby, for not pushing for abortion, we must condemn the very act that brought about the baby. Pregnancy or childbirth does not make adultery and fornication a virtue. 

My warning to Christians, to pastors and fellow priests is this, speak and preach the Gospel with clarity and distinction. Speak the truth. Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not your message, rather, His message. Preaching from moral weakness is capable of canonizing and approving bad acts and behaviors. If something is bad, it is bad even if I am the one that commits it. Do not condone what Yul Edochie did simply because in one way or another, you are also guilty. Yul Edochie’s action is condemnable and blamable. If we don’t condemn his action, then we are finished as a people. His actions— adultery and secretly getting married without the knowledge of his wife is deeply reprehensible. As moral beings, we must condemn such strongly. My late mother used to say, “Kpo ihe ojo, ihe ojo; akpola ajo omume ihe oma,” (call a bad thing a bad thing, don’t call a bad thing a good thing”). We have to agree that Yul’s action is wrong, offensive and sinful first. After that, we can now pray for his conversion. As for his wife, let’s pray for her. I can only guess what she is passing through now. I am glad that Yul Edochie’s family has dissociated themselves from the ridicule and is also providing comfort and healing to his lawfully wedded wife.

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