In a recent stir within the Nigerian social media landscape, media personality Yemi Hazan sparked a debate with his controversial remarks about people referring to their pastors as “dad” or “father.”
This conversation was ignited by a Twitter post from a young girl. She shared a photo with a popular pastor, affectionately calling him “dad” in her caption. Yemi Hassan, upon seeing this, criticized the practice. He suggested that such behavior might stem from mental illness.
Hassan’s comments have since attracted a wide range of responses from different individuals. A commentator named Kalista supported Hassan. She argued against belittling her husband in favor of another man, even a spiritual leader. She emphasized the importance of her husband in her life, stating that he “wears the royal crown always.”
Adding to the reactions, a nurse known as “lovely nurse” defended the young girl’s choice to call her pastor “dad.” She pointed out that fatherhood can take various forms – biological, mental, or even through adoption. The nurse advocated for personal choice in such matters.
Monica Friday, another voice in the debate, disagreed with Hassan. She spoke on the practice of having “school daughters” and “school mothers,” and by extension, “school fathers” in educational settings. She defended the idea of feeling a paternal connection towards someone not biologically related.
Further adding to the discussion, Adjuba criticized the deep-seated influence of religion in society. He implied that such influences often cloud people’s judgment. Meanwhile, Mr. Agogwa and Nze Bethel expressed concerns over the tendency of people on social media to dictate how others should live their lives. Kingsley, another commenter, saw this as reflective of a broader Nigerian mentality.
In a related context, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, a prominent Nigerian pastor, has been in the news recently. Kemi Filani reported that Pastor Adeboye had undertaken a significant fasting and prayer session upon turning 80, which left him weak but eventually stronger. The pastor was also mentioned in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, for his support of Israel, a stance that had previously drawn criticism.
