Pastor Bolaji Idowu of Harvesters International Christian Centre has called for mutual giving in relationships, describing some ladies as “professional receivers.”

The cleric made the remarks during a sermon titled “What Do You Do When Love Begins To Hurt” on October 11.
He questioned how couples could date for months without exchanging gifts.

“How can you date someone for three months and there is no exchange of gifts? And girls will say… Tell them oh… but I’m telling the girls now because giving is not one way. As he’s giving you too, you are giving,” he said.

Idowu pointed to what he saw as a double standard in the gifts some partners give and expect.

“Some ladies are professional receivers. It’s my birthday. Okay, we agree it’s your birthday — what about his birthday? You now buy boxers and singlets.

“But your own birthday they are buying iPhone, a trip to Qatar. But your own — no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.”

The pastor stressed that genuine love should make giving feel natural and should not be measured only by the cost of a gift.

“If it’s love, it must be easy to give, and giving is two ways.

“If you love somebody, it will be easy to give to. Anybody you love will be easy to give to. And it’s not about getting big things, it’s just small things — I drove by, I saw suya, I bought suya, I saw this, I bought this,” he said.

He reiterated: “How can you date someone for three months and there is no exchange of gifts?”