By Chinwe Ochu
The title of his piece was crafted as an attention- grabber, nothing else. Do not interpret it negatively. I wrote it that way out of the sweetness of my heart. I like Mercy Johnson; in fact I wanna like her die. Don’t get me wrong, I am female; and not many ladies like her. Reason? Who knows the heart of women? Not me, anyway. I wouldn’t want to go into why women can’t stand themselves. (I am not Dr. Phil). Anyway, even the recent storm circling round Mercy Johnson has not in any way dampened my fancy for her. (And I’m as straight as Elton John is gay)
Anyway, moving on. No one in this country (those that read, of course) will claim ignorance of Mercy’s recent trial. From online entertainment news outlets to blogs, her story is everywhere, eliciting more reaction than gist of any other Nollywood star in recent times. Way to go, gal!!! Don’t get me wrong. She has always grabbed our attention. If Mercy is not shown in photos with boob-revealing outfits, she is accused of publicly confronting fellow actors that say supposedly untrue things about her. When that didn’t seize our attention enough, her bogus wedding dates were sent flying from whatever source we hear them from. This chic never leaves our thought for long intervals. Why would she when her hour- glass figure adorns our screens; leaving men (and ladies too, I’m not judging) wondering if she gives freely? (Uh oh)
I noticed that despite her so-called scandal-ridden life, Mercy Johnson still has our admiration. This present case is evidence. Here is the story in brief. She is accused of ‘snatching’ another woman’s husband and steadily preparing to marry him. The wedding which is slated for the August 27 might or might not happen depending on the outcome of events. The man in question, Prince Odianosen Okojie allegedly married a Mrs. Lovely (yes na her name be that) Okojie in Italy in 2006 and has two kids to show for it. The Lovely- woman then began her media war (be it justified or not, I don’t care) against Mercy.
In the first place, Lovely Okojie has accused Mercy of snatching her ‘husband‘. Really? Snatching? Who still says that? When did men stop becoming willing participants to home- wrecking? Is the Prince a moron that has allowed him self to be snatched against his will? If so, Mercy, dear do not marry a moron. Since Lovely, the alleged wife of Odi (that’s what they call him) has somehow convinced us that he doesn’t have a mind of his own and thus can be snatched; I would advise Mercy to cancel the wedding. Who would want to marry a push- over, who can be snatched at will?
The Odi- guy as soon as he ‘noticed’ he had not divorced Lovely filed marriage annulment papers on the 12th of July. Yes, the July of yesterday. If he wanted to get a divorce and marry Mercy, why didn’t he do so a lot earlier? He would have saved everybody the stress. But no, he allowed the matter to escalate before he did something about it. Imagine the embarrassment Mercy would have felt after claiming she was ‘getting married to a single, unmarried father’. I really feel for Mercy. For once, I believe she is not the script writer in this new Mercy Johnson- inspired drama.
On Lovely Okojie waking up few weeks before the wedding and causing this whole brouhaha, I think its bull you- know- what. Mercy and Odi had their traditional wine- carrying ceremony back in 2009 (two long years ago) and it was a big deal. Typical of anything concerning Mercy Johnson, the event was highly publicised. She was gushing to newsmen and bloggers about how in love she was, precipitating her- wedding- date- rumour frenzy. All these happened and Lovely sat pretty in Canada; or wherever she claims she stays with her kids, until she realised it was almost time for the long walk to the altar. Why did it take her so long?
Another matter is this Prince business. Prince… Prince… Prince of what land? Everything I’ve been reading on this matter does not answer that question. So, after all the dust this case has generated, no body has bothered to look- up his family? We have to know o. It’s not by Princing up and down; trying to ruin poor Mercy’s life. Anyway, if he deliberately goes ahead to marry Mercy; since Lovely by all indications will not give him a divorce, that will be bigamy. The Prince might be locked up; if for nothing, following public uproar. Who wants their marriage to start on such a sour note? Even if love has broken my head and removed my brain, would I not at least listen to voices of reason?
As at Sunday, the 13th of August, Mercy’s publicist Samuel Olatunji said ‘she’s not sure’, when asked if his client would go ahead with the wedding. My sister, please be sure. You are talented and good- looking (forget all that noise about your skin. Na beef. Black is beautiful). Please walk on while you still can, before the Devil gives you a reason to stay. Although the reason behind your hesitation to break it off, according to the rumour mill is pregnancy, I do not believe them. Mercy, run as fast as your legs can carry you, before you actually become pregnant and think of managing the Prince.
For those who want the drama to end in marriage, I wouldn’t hold my breath for that because after reading this piece, Mercy Johnson wouldn’t want to be branded foolish (love or no love). Recently, the wind of sympathy has shifted towards Mercy as new information surface. Women, who hitherto had a lot to say about this ‘husband- snatching’ incident, have now rallied around her. Do not let us down, Mercy (hoping you didn’t know of the Prince’s marital status)… Just saying.
*Ochu is an Abuja-based journalist and blogger
25 comments
I do feel sorry for Mercy but what the writer fails to see (maybe because of her excessive love for Mercy;lol) is that if Mercy had done her investigation well(or her family doing it, as that is what should happen when a man comes for your daughter’s hand in marriage), all this would have not happen. Did Mercy find out which ‘Prince’ he was? Did she really investigate? Let this be a warning to all girls. I pray Mercy can make a wise decision and i pray God be with her.
Mercy should not be misled by 1 prince…. Cos she has been single long tym before meeting odi…. She has a bright future ahead her… Pls be wise before saying ”I DO”
I pity Mercy, I think she should swallow her pride and stop this wedding before it’s too late. She wants to marry an Italian prince. which prince????????????
I pity Mercy, I think she should swallow her pride and stop this wedding before it’s too late. She wants to marry an Italian prince. which prince????????????
LOL….Nice piece chinwe, u wrote just the way it is..This is very simple to handle( dont get me wrong as i know matters of the heart isnt easy to let go), but if Mercy looks ahead of her future she will realise that calling OFF this wedding is the best thing that can happen to her, coz the level @ which diz lovely is goin she aint stopping soon and that prince is a HELL of a man.. plzz mercy diz princy princy aint worth it jare….
Wey the prince self?…hope yu guys saw the picture when he was about to sign the marriage register in 2006…dis dude was so lean that it wont be suprising to hear that the guy entered the country illegally via morroco…now the bastard is so fat nw….em wan con move em stunt to anoda maye to make more coins……sister mercy not sure if yu re readin dis or not …abeg cancelle that wedding..even if all the allegations against prince aint tru….leave the guy abeg…take ur time cos if yu eventually go into this union…it will eventually result into another full blown scandal cos it wont work out…a word is enough for the wise!
Such an unfortunate situation for Mercy. I just pray she takes the right decision and call off the wedding. She’s still young and will most definitely find a better person. Great piece Miss Ochu.
mercy pls be wise,cancel d furkin weddin with a fruster and move on with life.u gonna get ur own very soon
this is very poor writing; too elementary to be taken seriously. and do not belittle Lovely’s pain unless you’d like for us to pray that you find yourself in the middle of such confusion so we can have the pleasure of judging your actions too. you cannot tell Mercy what to do, but what you must do (and fast!) is learn how to gather your thoughts well and present them maturely. This is cheap rant that really gets under my skin!
pliz in d name of God fink b4 making any decision God wil see u 2ru
Boo, u wanna pray for the writer? Pray to whom? Haahaahhahahaa. Bitter generation… Anyway, Mercy should know that a man who leaves his wife for her would soon leave her for another woman.
Booo! You for write ur own na…….thumbs up to the writer johr……
Mercy darlıng,u are too much to be assocıated wıth such scandal,worse still, wıth some one dat looks lıke a cassanova.Cant u access hım by hıs looks? He’s not worth the paıns and embarassment u are goıng thru, so pls my advıce ıs for u to stop.He ıs a gıgolo,a cheat,a lıer,a pretender,and a slow Kıller so marryıng hım wıll only do u more harm by kıllıng u slowly.Agaın u shall never lıve d fullfılled lıfe u deserve.Ur lıfe wıll be full of regrets and mısery bcus God wont forgıve ur actıons.pls thınk twıce,ı luv u.A great fan (Cameroonıan)
mercy johnson is not in luv with him, she is in luv cus the guy is a prince, during this the marriage she will regrets. we all have to think wisely
i knw how u feel but pls liv him and find ur own husband.
mercy i love u, pls the best thing 2 do is calling off the weddin, just let it go ok, i know it will not be easy 4 u, but if u hope on God and have faith in him, he will see u througt.now learn ur lession,men are decietful.
Mercy, please use ur headooooo before another person use it for u
Mercy , pls be wise. Do u like d word had i known? If not, then take d right decision now b/4 it is too late.
Mercy,all dis d r sayin is true.jst cut off d weddin god wil gv u ur own suitable husband.b wise
Hey! I just say your wedding card today, and I need no prophet to tell me that your so called prince is just an Italian Purrey-Guy.
Dear Mercy, why must you do yourself this harm? ppl has been warning you and you still harden your heart or do you want God to speak from heaven b4 you will listen? I see had I known waiting for you in this union. Think twice, Disengagement is far better than divorce.
my mercy,u knw u re my name sake,i luv u very much.pls leave dat gud forsaken man alone he doesn’t deserve u.u deserve somone else better tan him,i wish u luck
Anyway she finally decide her fate to say i do. As i’m typing now, d wedin is going on with amid securities. Hm! May God ve mercy on MJ. Men., this life is deminimious! One man’s poison is another man’s paper soup. All d adivices i’ve read so far concerning our beloved MJ re true nd wise enough becos God cannot speak to her on the way from where he is, is through any or many of us here on earth he can speak to her from but the person we are sending all these adivise to simpls to be deaf nd dump. Let’s watch the part 2 scandal after the wedin though i wish her luck.
mercy is a diva and not a hustler,so girlfriend even b4 this prince came into your life you have been doing great,why now.i am sure you have conscience,have you taking a 2cond thought on what those children are missing,pls don’t deprive them of their father’s love,that will be inhuman.and remember you have many people looking up to you,don’t disappoint them.you are better than this.
Mercy,be strong cz men r animals!
I’m incessantly thought about this, thanks for putting up.