The Owl's! | 1 July 2012 06:18 CET

Okotie's Crashed Marriage: Celebrities React

By OMOTOLA OLAIFA, JAMES EMMANUEL and STEVE DEDE
 BENITA NZERIBE (ACTRESS)

 Nobody would be happy to break up with his or her partner because I am sure they were in love with each other before they decided to marry. I think the media is not helping matters too. Let us leave them alone. It’s their per

BENITA NZERIBE (ACTRESS)

Nobody would be happy to break up with his or her partner because I am sure they were in love with each other before they decided to marry. I think the media is not helping matters too. Let us leave them alone. It's their per

Shocked Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the recent public announcement by the General Overseer of House Hold of God, Rev. Chris Okotie that his almost four years marriage to Stephanie was over.

Since the disclosure, which Okotie made on the altar during the Sunday service, several Nigerians have been reacting, including entertainers.

It is a usual tradition to sampled the views of several entertainers on the separation. They described the funky preacher's action as part of a man's life while others condemned the action as ungodly.

Elder O (Comedian)

He is at liberty to live his life the way he wishes. Most times, Christians live and die in a marriage that is not destined to work at all in the name of “no divorce, no polygamy”. But being a man of God, I think he should watch his actions and hear from God-because they (Pastors) always advise us against divorce.

Ancient Master (Musician)

Rev. Chris Okotie is a man of God who is trying to prove to us that there are certain things you cannot take, even as a pastor. The public should also know that being a pastor does not take away free will or right to choice of relationship. Though marriages are crashing on daily bases; hence we may say, “First fool is not a fool, but what happens to a second fool?”

via e-Express

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I'd Get Married Again In December-Pastor Kris Okotie

Church Members Barred From Discussing Okotie's Marriage

CHARLYBOY (MUSICIAN)

Divorce is a normal thing that can happen when things go wrong and can't be reconciled. It's better to separate than to suffer. Even if he is a pastor he is human too.

SOUND SULTAN (MUSICIAN)

Well, what do you say to this kind of thing? It's a very difficult one. I really don't know what to say. Marriage is an institution where you either pass or fail. One has to be very careful.

Mike Nliam (Filmmaker)

It's a very serious and 'interesting' situation. I cannot really judge him because he is a pastor and a teacher of the Bible - a man under authority and knows what the Bible says about divorce. Again, despite his pastoral portfolio, he is still human and must have his challenges. As a pastor, role model and public figure, he owes God, his congregation and the society (fans) an explanation.

He has done that to some extent. It would be interesting to know what counsel he would give to many folks in his church who have troubled marriages. It is indeed a very delicate situation.

IVIE OKUJAYE (ACTRESS)

Divorce is something I can't talk about. It is personal. So, whether their marriage crashed or not is not my business.

Senator Ita Giwa (Politician)

I think marriage is a private thing between a couple, and not something that the public should influence. It is a private thing if a couple have any difference between each other, they should call themselves together and sort it out between them. I know Pastor Kris Okotie and I know they will sort it out with each other. It is beyond us, it is beyond the public. It is their private matter

Bashorun Dele Momodu (Publisher)

It is sad and unfortunate that the marriage did not work. I feel like a stakeholder in that marriage. I attended their wedding and I was very excited about the love they exuded openly. Pastor Kris has been my friend of many years.

He is a man who supported me all the way during my exile years. So I feel very bad that this is happening again to him. But then, he is a human being like the rest of us. Being a pastor does not make you less human. What I like about him is that he is a very brave man, who is ready to carry his cross alone at any time.

Even Jesus our Lord carried His own cross at a time. So there is nothing strange or new in men of God going through trials and tribulations. If he finds love again, I don't think anything should stop him from doing so. He cannot live alone perpetually. Every man needs a good companion.

So we can only pray that God will find him a permanent companion. He should not be discouraged. As to your question whether he should marry a foreigner, I will say that it does not matter where a woman comes from, a human being is a human being. But I do not think that his choice of a wife should be limited to his church members. A man should look beyond his immediate environment for a marital partner. In a relationship, one person must make the move.

Gloria Doyle (Musician)

I actually feel a lot about marital issues. Pastor should settle down and go out for the right reasons before taking the step. You don't marry a woman because she is beautiful, you don't marry a woman because of just any casual reason. You marry a woman because you want to share your life and love with the woman. If what they professed they had in their hearts for each other was genuine, then I don't think they will get themselves to the point of separation.

Right now, they are not disclosing the issues that led them to this. But they just agreed to separate. As to your question about the church not having fore-knowledge of what was going to take place last Sunday, I will say that Pastor Kris has always been a very private person, he is somebody that makes his business his business.

Personally, if I say that I did not see it coming, I will not be sincere. For instance, I have been with Stephanie in the church and I have seen her. Pastor Kris needs the right hand. He is a pastor and a teacher, anybody he gets married to, needs to have a vast knowledge of the Bible. I think they got married because they have been friends for long.

Tee Mac (Musician)

There is no point two people living together as husband and wife, if they are not happy with each other. Happiness is very important in any relationship. Two people can only live and be happy with each other, if it is so sanctioned by God. But if they both think that it will save both of them a lot of stress by living apart from each other or separating from each other, then it is best they do so.

There is nothing like 'till death do us apart' anymore, that injunction is outdated. We are in modern times and every relationship has to be guided by love and happiness. It is correct for Pastor Kris and his wife to split if the love and happiness that joined them together are no longer there. Anyway, I believe that two people can live together without being married. I wish Pastor Kris Okotie all the best and also wish his ex-wife Stephanie all the best.

Benny Obaze (House of Bevista, City Clothier)

The separation between Pastor Kris Okotie and wife Stephanie is unfortunate. I feel for the pastor, but he probably knows best. But if you are in a marriage and it is not working out, instead of living in despair or a pretentious life, it's better to end the relationship. Pastor Kris has been my friend and pastor, so I am sure that the decision that he has made is good for him and his now separated wife. So like he said, I think we should respect his privacy. What I can do is to pray for him so that he can find his true love. I believe something must have gone wrong which we are not privy to.

Marriage is a very difficult thing. We can never know the whole details of what went wrong. However, God said that it is not good for a man to be alone. So I am advising him to marry again, if he sees the right partner. I support him to re-marry because a marriage did not work does not make him a bad man or does it make Stephanie a bad woman.

It was an irreconcilable difference. People can get to a point that they cannot reconcile and it becomes best for them to separate, instead of living a pretentious life. I've known the pastor over the years, he is not pretentious. He is straight. He is still a young man, in his early 50s, and a pastor of a very big church. So he should find a good partner who will serve God with him.

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