Pastor and founder of Light Nation Church, Femi Lazarus, has advised men to be cautious about entering marriages in which they believe their wives will refuse to submit to them, citing biblical teachings on the roles of husbands and wives.
Lazarus made the remarks while speaking about marriage, relationships and behaviours he said could create serious problems in the home.
The pastor criticised men who, in his view, describe themselves as “woke” while allowing their wives to openly reject the idea of submitting to their husbands.
He argued that couples should not reinterpret biblical teachings on marriage simply to suit modern relationship dynamics.
“Love your wife. Wife, submit to your husband. That’s the culture,” Lazarus said.
He also described a situation where a woman controls her husband as problematic and urged men to pay attention to a prospective partner’s attitude towards marriage before getting married.
Lazarus said men should not dismiss statements such as “I don’t submit to any man” when considering marriage, arguing that couples need to have a shared understanding of their expectations and responsibilities.
The pastor also raised concerns about domestic violence and abusive behaviour in relationships, urging couples not to overlook threats or physical aggression from their partners.
He referred to a case involving a woman who allegedly killed her children, claiming that some women had publicly expressed support for the alleged actions. He used the example to warn against what he described as the normalisation of harmful behaviour within relationships.
Lazarus further advised men not to laugh off threats or physical attacks from their wives simply because they believe such behaviour is part of their partner’s temperament.
His comments have added to ongoing public discussions in Nigeria about marriage, gender roles, submission and domestic violence, particularly over how traditional religious teachings should be understood alongside modern expectations of relationships.
While the pastor’s remarks focused on submission and household leadership, cases of domestic abuse should be treated seriously regardless of whether the alleged perpetrator is a man or a woman.
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