By Sunmola Olowookere

Chukwudi (not real name ) walked resolutely on by the dusty path. He held a big suitcase in his hands which he was dragging along with him.

However, his progress was intermittently impeded by a young girl who would grab his bags at intervals but would take away her hands when he turned angrily to look at her. Then she would rub her palms together in supplication.

She was begging him not to go. It was obviously a couple’s quarrel.

Things got to a head when the guy got a motorcyclist that would take him out. The lady began to cry in earnest, bawling loudly and holding on to the man who although looking embarrassed was determined to leave.

Chukwudi married her from their village and brought her back to Akure with him.

According to him, they had an agreement that she would learn a trade and that after that he would establish her in business. And they would begin to build their family.

However, the young girl seemed more inclined to staying indoors, watching films, eating and generally lazing about.

Her husband registered her at two places but she left over the pretext that her bosses were too harsh.

Her husband tried to reason with her but she refused to listen to reason. He tried to threaten her, she was so assured of his love that she called his bluff saying he could not do that to her.

For over a year, she refused to work and the husband became fed up with her. Therefore, when their rent expired, he simply packed his bags and made to desert her.

This is just a scenario where relationships or marriages fail due to irreconcilable differences between couples.

In recent times, rate of divorce has continued to soar as no fewer than 2,520 divorce petitions were filed before the Ondo State High Courts in Akure in 2021.

Impeccable sources at the State Judiciary headquarters in Akure revealed that over 200 divorce petitions were filed every month during the outgone year.The sources hinted that the court heard an average of 10 to 15 cases of divorce every sitting.

Compared to several decades ago, the rate at which marriages are getting dissolved in recent times is alarming.

Couples no longer persevere in their relationships. They get separated barely six months after their weddings.

There is a growing concern in our society, especially among older generations as they beheld the “Till death do us part” promise being easily broken by young couples.

To some, the introduction of western culture to Nigeria was accompanied by various ideologies like feminism, which, according to some users, prevents a wife from submitting to her husband.

They believe that this creates room for disrespect, an act some men cannot tolerate.

Young couples who get divorced are accused of living a fake life on social media, trying to impress their followers and friends instead of focusing more on strengthening the bond between them.

Some posts on social media project a make believe of a fairy tale marriage, which serves as a wrong foundation for couples to build their relationship.

Laying a good impression

During courtship, a man woos a lady by presenting a perfect version of himself. But once they get married, his behaviour changes to a different one.

The same applies to the behaviour of a lady. So, upon revealing their true identities, they cannot tolerate each other, leading to the dissolution of their marriage.

Rush to tie the knot

Lack of proper preparation is another reason why couples fail to take time to study one another and identify potential challenges before jumping into marriage. This lack of patience prevents them from critically assessing their compatibility, affecting the lifespan of their relationship.

Religion

It is believed that some couples who got divorced do not have a fear of God in them and lack proper religious lessons regarding issues like marriage.

Lack of purpose

Before venturing into marriage, Nigerians state that most couples don’t have a clear purpose in mind. This causes them to use worldly things and physical attractiveness as a yardstick to determine if they are compatible.

No love lost

A recurring example used to buttress this point was couples who marry each other for financial benefits.

In the absence of love, there is a limit to how long money can hold the pillars of marriage. While money can make a couple happy, sometimes it covers the lies and deception in marriage.

Lack of perception on marriage

Young couples who get married don’t have a deep understanding of the sacred institution they are committing to. Instead, many see it as an achievement or a prerequisite to determining an individual’s success.

Immaturity also plays a role in the low level of understanding because it limits the experience couples have in the definition of marriage.

Infidelity

Before getting married, some couples engage in premarital sex with multiple partners, an act they find difficult to stop. It often leads to extra-marital affairs.

In a situation where their partners become aware of this, it breeds a lack of trust, causing a ripple effect on the marriage.Focusing more on wedding than marriage

Nigerian couples must focus on the aftermath of the wedding rather than the clothes worn at the wedding, the caterer to be hired, or the location of the wedding.

Focusing only on the wedding makes it impossible to predict plans for the real deal, marriage.

Poverty

The biggest factor of it all is the economic hardship that is bedevilling most homes in Nigeria.

It is a huge factor affecting the increase in divorce rates. It is often unpopularly said, “No money, more problems.”