“Desist From DNA Tests, It’s Against Our Culture” — Prophet Odumeje Warns Ndigbo
•By Admin
ABUJA —- CONTROVERSIAL Cleric, Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, popularly known as Prophet Odumeje, has stirred fresh debate after urging Igbo men to desist from conducting DNA tests on their children, describing the practice as alien to Igbo culture.
Speaking during a recent sermon that is now trending on social media platforms, the Onitsha-based preacher cautioned that subjecting children to DNA verification undermines family values and could destabilize homes across Igboland.
According to him, any child born within a marriage should be regarded as belonging to the husband, regardless of biological paternity.
“Stop doing DNA. It is not our culture. Any child your wife gives birth to is yours. That is how it has always been,” he declared before his congregation.
The cleric, also known as Idabosky, stressed that introducing DNA tests into marriages promotes suspicion and erodes trust between couples, warning that it could lead to increased cases of broken homes and social tension.
Odumeje further argued that traditional Igbo society places a premium on family unity and social fatherhood rather than biological ties, insisting that modern influences should not override long-standing cultural values.
His remarks, however, have triggered mixed reactions on social media, with many Nigerians disagreeing with his stance and defending DNA testing as a legitimate tool for establishing paternity, especially in cases of dispute.
While some supporters echoed his concerns about preserving cultural norms and protecting marriages, critics argued that DNA testing helps prevent fraud, emotional trauma, and legal complications associated with paternity uncertainty.
Adding another layer to the ongoing debate, a medical doctor, who spoke anonymously during a radio programme, advised men to avoid DNA testing unless absolutely necessary, warning that the outcome could do more harm than good to family stability.
“I will strongly advise men not to bother about DNA, especially when there is no need. Don’t rupture your home front peace. Many firstborns are not the biological children of the men they call fathers, that is very true. What one knows, especially in matters like these, hurts more. In this case, ignorance is bliss,” the doctor said.
Although his position did not gain widespread support, it reflects a growing school of thought that prioritises emotional stability over biological certainty.
There have been increasing accounts of men who became emotionally devastated after DNA results revealed they were not the biological fathers of their children, an outcome many say is difficult to process and often leads to lasting personal and family crises.
The debate around DNA testing has gained prominence in Nigeria in recent years, particularly with rising reports of disputed paternity and calls for greater transparency in family matters.
As reactions continue to trail Odumeje’s comments, the controversy underscores a deeper, enduring dilemma whether to seek the truth at all costs or preserve peace in ignorance.
Much like the age-old question of “to be or not to be,” the conversation around DNA testing remains unresolved, with no clear consensus in sight.
•INDEPENDENTNG.