Residents of Ekiti are worried about the rate at which couples approach courts to seek divorce.

The residents in the Ikole Ekiti and Oye-Ekiti axis of the state called on religious and community leaders to intervene before the situation got out of control.

According to them, increased demand for divorce by aggrieved couples is not good for societal peace and children’s future.

Mopelola Badmus, a marriage counsellor, said couples were supposed to cultivate the habit of living together in peace and mutual understanding to sustain their marriage.

“Couples should be able to resolve their differences amicably without involving the third party, talk less of dragging themselves before the court,” she said.

Also commenting, a clergy, Dare Onaolapo, lamented that many marriages no longer lasted beyond the first anniversary or a little more due to an apparent lack of good upbringing.

He explained that many intending couples did not take time to learn about each other and determine the level of their compatibility before marriage.

“The sacred vows placed on marriage between husband and wife have been disregarded by many couples due to selfishness and greediness,” Mr Onaolapo stated.

The pastor added, “Whenever some of them have misunderstanding, and they are unable to resolve it amicably, the next thing they do is to seek divorce in court. This is not the best alternative.

“Couples, who are still very young in marriage, need to be more educated on the importance and values of marriage.”

Funke Omolola blamed the early crash of many marriages on greed, adultery, lack of care, and domestic violence, attributing it to a lack of regard for marriage creed or family values.

An octogenarian whose marriage has lasted 50 years, Oludele Akanni, said failures of most marriages could be due to intolerance, mutual suspicion, lack of contentment, and bad company.

He also listed poverty, sudden loss of jobs, laziness, and undue family influence as other factors, urging couples to learn to cope with unavoidable phases in their marriage by being more tolerant with each other.

NAN investigation revealed that divorce issues were prevalent in Ekiti, with an average of four divorce cases filed in customary courts in some towns every month.

However, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, takes the lead with the highest number of divorce cases and marriage dissolution reported almost daily.

(NAN)