'I will commit suicide if I am stopped from marrying man of my choice'

isaac dachen

August 17, 2016 10:08 AM

Would you change your religion just so that you can marry the person of your choice? That is the dilemma facing Samira and Jeffrey.

This is one very sad woman

All the seven children of my parents are graduates and we are doing very well in our chosen profession. I know I have always been a liberal minded girl and I always made sure I had my way most of the times while growing up and this time, I have vowed that if my parents dared stop me from in my life, I will commit suicide.

I met , a Christian from the eastern part of Nigeria, during my youth service in Ibadan and I must say it was love at first sight for us. We fell so much in love that when he proposed to me, I did not hesitate to accept him.

I never looked at the fact that he is a Christian and from a tribe far from mine. We knew we would have trouble with our families, especially my parents, but we made up our minds to stand by each other no matter the challenges we have faced.

The first challenge came from his family who initially refused to accept me but when Jeff told them he would never marry any other person apart from me, they soft-pedalled and came to accept me.

But the most serious was when we went to meet my family. My father was so mad that I could brought a 'Nyamiri boy', like he referred to Jeff, and told him to his face that he would never give us his blessings.

I stood up to him and vowed that I would never marry another man apart from Jeff. All threats from him and my brothers have failed to soften my mind because I do not see why I should be stopped from marrying a man I love and know I would be happy with.

Now my father has given us a condition: either Jeff becomes a Muslim or forget about me, while his family too has sworn to disown him if he converts to Islam because of me.

On my part, I am prepared to convert to Christianity because my happiness lies with Jeff.

Samira."

Dear readers, Samira and Jeff are between the rock and a hard place. On Morning Teaser today, what advice do you have for them?

isaac dachen