OPM pastor in big trouble over marriage proposal for adopted autistic son

The pastor and the boy

Chibuzor Chinyere, the general overseer of Omega Power Ministry (OPM), has apologised following widespread backlash over a social media post in which he sought a wife for his adopted son, who is autistic. The controversy began when the cleric shared a photo on Facebook of himself and the young man, identified as Aboy.

In the post, Chinyere offered significant financial incentives to any woman willing to marry him.

He explained that the boy had been abandoned at his church gate by unknown parents and had been raised under his care.

He noted that the prospective wife could be a single mother or an older woman but stipulated that she “must not be autistic”.

“Marry him and get benefits. Since the unknown parents dump him at my gate, he has been growing to become a man. Any lady that accepts to marry him. All marrital rites would be paid. Free accommodation for life, monthly salary for live, as house shall be built for the 2 couples of them,” he wrote.

“Free medical for both couples for life, vacation overseas for both couples. She can be a single mother, a grand mother etc. But she must not be autistic and many other huge financial benefits. Any interested girl or woman, go to opm headquarters ask of head of OPM welfare.”

The proposal was met with swift outrage on social media. Critics condemned the approach as transactional and insensitive.

“This is not right at all. Marriage isn’t a transaction or incentives,” an X user wrote.

“If he were a woman, they wouldn’t do this to get her a husband. Women have suffered,” another X user added.