(Rita Edochie. Photo by MUBI)
Veteran actress Rita Edochie has criticised an event pastor for what she described as unfair comments made about infidelity within marriage.
Edochie reacted via a post on social media after coming across a video showing the pastor addressing a couple at a marriage-related event.
She wrote that she was very angry that morning and expressed hope that the video was merely a joke or content created for entertainment.
According to the clip, the pastor, speaking in Igbo, told the wife that if her husband travelled for months and she was unfaithful during that period, she would be caught and sent back to her father’s house, prompting her to respond with “Amen.”
However, when addressing the husband, the officiating minister stated that should he be unfaithful to his wife, God would forgive him since he did not act intentionally.
Reacting to this, Edochie argued that if men are excused for infidelity on the grounds that they are naturally polygamous, then women deserve the same grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
She insisted that enough was enough when it came to such gender inequality.
The actress further stated that society has for too long operated under different standards for men and women, noting that unfaithful men are often described merely as having made a mistake, while women found in similar situations are quickly condemned and sometimes told they are unfit to remain married.
She questioned why the same offence should produce different consequences depending on gender, arguing that since marriage vows are exchanged equally by both parties, accountability and forgiveness should likewise apply equally.
She maintained that if infidelity is considered a sin, it should be regarded as a sin for both parties, and that if forgiveness exists, it should not be reserved for only one gender.
She described justice that favours men while condemning women as not justice at all, likening it instead to witchcraft.
Edochie concluded that a marriage cannot truly thrive in an atmosphere where men are constantly excused while women are held to a standard of perfection, stressing that a principle only qualifies as one when it applies equally to everyone.
