Lagos pastor calls for Valentine’s Day ban to save youths from sexual immorality

On Wednesday, Bishop Charles Ighele, who serves as the General Superintendent of the Holy Spirit Mission located in Ikeja, Lagos State, urged that Valentine’s Day celebrations be prohibited in Nigeria.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, Ighele made the call, noting that some people associate the day with illicit sexual abuse.

He stated that the day had been misinterpreted as promoting romantic relationships, instead of its original purpose of promoting assistance to those in need and humanitarian efforts.

He characterized it as a devilish trick aimed at establishing a worldwide day of immorality on Earth.

He states that, regrettably, a large number of boys, girls, and married individuals have succumbed to this falsehood about love, ignoring the concept of agape love as outlined in the Bible.

 

The cleric added that ”cupid” influenced humans to set aside February 14, as a special day for people to do whatever they want to do with sex and the perversion of true love.

Ighele thus called on the authorities to ban the celebration of this day due to its negative impact on young people.

He pointed out that it was the responsibility of the government and various non-state entities—including the church, schools, and families—to come together in fostering cultures that embody social redeeming values.

He mentioned that prohibiting the celebration would save people from destruction.

NAN reports that February 14 is the annual celebration of Valentine’s Day, which is also known as Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine.

The Day started as a Christian feast day commemorating a martyr named Valentine, but it has evolved into an important cultural and commercial celebration of romance and love in various parts of the world.

Even though Valentine’s Day is not classified as a public holiday, it is regarded as an important cultural and religious celebration of romance within the Catholic Church.

Despite its global popularity, Valentine’s Day is not celebrated in some countries, primarily due to religious beliefs.