DIVORCE: Rising Cases Blamed on Poverty
Jimmie Adzande
Makurdi
The rising cases of divorce among married couples has been blamed on poverty.
Those who spoke to The Transmitter Media in Makurdi, said most marriages no longer enjoy the dignity of the institution due to the inability of spouses to meet their financial obligations.
Across the city of Makurdi, residents agree that there are rising cases of divorce, caused by a plethora of reasons. But one that stood out among many respondents is poverty. Human rights advocate and Muslim leader, Hauwa Isa Yusuf said “poverty is to be blamed. A lot of women have nothing doing and with the harsh economy, many depend on their husbands. When he comes home and you ask, what did you bring? He becomes agitated and problem sets in.”
She added that the islamic religion does not decreed that people of little or no means to marry more than one wife. With the current economy, is it easy for a family of four? Not to talk of a man with four wives and thirty-one kids” she added.
The gender advocacy expert counsel women to find an engagement for themselves. She also said the experience of the COVID-19 outbreak and the current naira crisis should be eye opener to women.
Speaking on the same issue, a Christian leader and peace advocate, Justin Tsukwa said “that there is a break in social norms. He said many couples are impatient and ignorance of the social contract in marriage. He further listed “childless and impatience are some of the reasons people divorce.” The man of God maintained that for couples to coexist, there must be “tolerance and respect for individual differences.”
Karen Kpum said the rise in cases of divorce is necessitated by sexual and gender-based violence. She said where violence persists, “it is better for the couples to resort to divorce than to engage in violent acts that could lead to serious injuries or even death. Many people for the people of what society will say, have loss their lives” the development expert with Foundation for Justice Development and Peace, Makurdi Catholic Diocese, said.
A divorcee who preferred to remain anonymous said in her case, it was deceit. She said her “former husband deceived me. He was clearly the opposite of what he represented before the marriage. I endured but I had to move on.”
Another divorcee who simply identified himself as Terna said in his case “my former came home with a strange sickness. I needed to know how and why but she couldn’t talk.”
Another divorcee said “my former wife told me one day that the man she loved was not me. And that she was not feeling any connection after three years in the marriage. This is the sad truth” he said.
To reduce the rise in divorce, stakeholders calling on partners to embrace tolerance and peace. These are the variables that can mitigate the trend.
Checks around Makurdi revealed that there has been a growing number of single mothers occasioned by divorce among the youth population, a situation many are hopeful will be halted with the right information and orientation about marriage.
