Pastor Phillip Olubakin has sparked reactions online after saying women who rely completely on their husbands financially are more likely to face domestic abuse in relationships.
Speaking during a sermon, Olubakin stressed that women should have their own source of income, arguing that financial independence helps create a healthier and more balanced marriage.
Using his marriage as an example, he said a wife should be financially capable enough to support her husband when necessary.
“I told my wife, ‘Can you borrow me a million?’ My wife borrowed me a million right there. I want to have a wife that can borrow me one million, that can borrow me two million. That’s a kingdom marriage,” he said.
He explained that such a relationship shows that both partners are productive and building their lives together.
Olubakin also criticised relationships where women depend entirely on their partners for everyday needs.
“Even me, I want to be borrowing money from my wife and not pay it back. I want to be able to borrow like, ‘Please, borrow me two million there, one million there,’ and not pay it back. That’s a wife,” he said.
Addressing women directly, the pastor linked financial dependence to vulnerability in abusive relationships.
“And that is why they are beating you in the relationship. You are poor. You don’t have your own money. You cannot eat without him. You cannot drink without him. No rent without him. No clothes without him,” he said.
He added, “The guy tells you to go to hell, you still don’t have transport. You can’t go to hell. You have to beg for transport to go to hell.”