Nigerian pastor slams Kenya’s leader over polygamy law

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - A Nigerian Pentecostal pastor has criticized Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta for signing legislation into law that permits polygamy in the Christian-majority East African country.

Pastor Johnson Suleman called the law a misplaced priority in Kenya, implying that the president had gone against a core doctrine of his Christian faith.

"The president of Kenya had just legalized polygamy and signed it into law. Inasmuch as I respect Kenyatta, can he explain how this new law can help the economy of Kenya?" the controversial pastor said in a Twitter post early Wednesday.

"There are better things to sign into law. True marriage is one man, one wife."

Suleman’s position has drawn mixed reactions from his followers on social media. While some agreed with his message, a few others said Kenyatta's action reflected the realities of his African nation.

"You have just nailed the truth right down, but will they take any action? You will be shocked to see the reaction of the same people you are trying to speak for," tweeted one follower, Lady Barnnerman.

But Computex Raymond disagreed with the pastor.

"When are we going to stop fooling ourselves as black people? Is there any man sleeping with only one woman? Why marry one at home going out to hidden joints sleeping with another? Suleman, everything is not about the economy. The life of people matters too. God has no issues with polygamy," he tweeted.

Suleman, who owns mega churches in major African cities, has been a controversial figure in Nigeria, where he had repeatedly been quizzed for inciting comments against public officials.

Recently, he was accused of having an affair with a Canada-based stripper -- a claim he denied and called an attempt by his traducers to get at him.