Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, Hon. Leke Abejide, has advised Nigerians not to allow the current economic hardship to destroy their marriages and families.
He gave the advice on Sunday during a special thanksgiving service held at Christ Wisdom Gospel Church, Kubwa, Abuja, to celebrate the 50th birthday of his wife, Deaconess Esther Modupe Abejide, as well as their 20th wedding anniversary.
Representing Yagba Federal Constituency in Kogi State, Abejide emphasised that strong and lasting marriages are built on love, mutual understanding, and faith in God. He noted that adherence to these core values remains essential for sustaining a successful union.
“You sustain marriage with love as it is written in the book of Ephesians Chapter 5 — husbands should love their wives and wives should submit to their husbands. This principle has been working for us,” he said.
He warned couples against allowing financial pressures to weaken their homes, urging them to remain committed despite challenges.
Hon. Abejide also pointed out what he described as a contradiction in the economy, noting that while many complain of hardship, others continue to make significant investments.
He said, “My message to Nigerians is: don’t allow hunger and hardship to take away your marriage. Let God be your foundation. When you have God, things will fall into place.
“You see people building houses, they say there is no money. You see estates springing up, people buying vehicles and travelling abroad. So we must not allow temporary hardship to destroy our homes,” he said.
In her remarks, Deaconess Esther Abejide attributed the success of their 20-year marriage to love, patience, and understanding, stressing the importance of faith and sacrifice.
“The secret is love and understanding. Couples must understand each other, know what their partner likes and dislikes. With that, the marriage will last.
“With God in the marriage, through prayer and even fasting, it will stand,” she added.
Speaking on balancing her role as a politician’s wife with her religious commitments, she described the experience as seamless.
“It is easy for me because I love people and I am always happy to be around them, so it has not been difficult to cope,” she said.
Also speaking, Senator Sunday Karimi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Services and representative of Kogi West Senatorial District, expressed optimism about Nigeria’s economic direction under President Bola Tinubu, urging citizens to remain patient.
The lawmaker said, “There is hope. There is a renewed hope. Let me tell you what is happening: we are graduating from an economy that has no direction. When the country starts printing money, it’s a fake country. That was what was happening.
“But Tinubu came and said no. Let’s run a perfect economy. It’s not been easy. But I can promise you, we are moving to the promised land. Our economy is getting better. Don’t mind the borrowing, they are talking about. Check the US and its debt. It’s in trillions of dollars, but the economy is running well.
“Look at Lagos. Lagos is a shining example of a state that we ought to look up to in Nigeria. That is what Tinubu is doing for us.
We need to be patient. Nigeria is getting better. By God’s grace, he is coming back to continue the work he is doing.”
Senator Karimi dismissed opposition coalition efforts, describing the actors as “the same old politicians” with nothing new to offer.
The event attracted political associates, family members, and well-wishers, and featured the donation of an 18-seater ‘hummer’ bus to the church in celebration of the couple’s milestone.
