Why Mercy Johnson wants women to start paying dowry

By: Sandra Ani

Controversial actress, Mercy Johnson-Okojie has proposed that Nigerian women should start paying dowry to their suitors, and not the other way round.

The Kogi State-born movie star who currently serves as Senior Special Assistant on Entertainment, Arts and Culture to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State made the proposal on Sunday when her son whom she fondly calls Baby clocked three.

Mercy said when her son grows up, she would not pay dowry to any woman rather, the would-be wife of her son will have to pay dowry to her (Mercy).

Reiterating her rather weird proposal, the mother of three said: “A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best and his mother the longest. Mummy’s hero is 3. Our kingy is growing and we are all so happy. May God keep him safe and may he always be a source of pride to mummy and to us all. Happy birthday Baby.

“Please I won’t pay dowry (when my son gets to marriageable age). Any girl my kingy will marry MUST pay me dowry.”

Overheard someone asking if that is the practice in her home state, Kogi or if she paid dowry to the mother of her husband, Prince Odi Okojie in 2011 who she got married to under very controversial circumstances.