by Myne Whitman

The latest of these Nigerian men, who get women pregnant and then try to shirk their responsibility when a baby comes is Ice Prince whom RML featured in our last “Daddy Time” post. I won’t say celebrities because I know this is a very common situation and there are celebs, like Tuface, who try to do the right thing. It is great that the rapper now showers love and care on his son, but according to news sources, Ice Prince recently accepted that he denied having a son when the news made headlines in March 2012.
He says the situation was complicated back then, adding;

“I didn’t really know what was happening and I wasn’t sure of certain things. So the best I had to do then was deny it and sort out things first. Now I know he is my child and I have done everything as a father ever since.”

Before Ice Prince had been 9jice who back in 2010 also denied to the press that twin girls born to a lady he had been dating back then were his. Now he has accepted his children, and shows off their pictures sometimes on his social media. Below is an excerpt from an interview where he was asked about the episode.

Why did you deny you had twins when they were born?

I did say I didn’t have twins then because I believe it was personal. If I have N1m, I think it is only my account’s officer that should know how much I have. In fact, he wouldn’t even have the right to check my account unless I ask him to do that. He couldn’t just cull up my account details and start checking how much I have. This is not a car we are talking about, these are human beings.

But when they grow up, do you think they will forgive you when they read that you once denied them?

– I will tell them the reason I did that. It was the same way my father gave me his own reasons. I didn’t know him until I was 22. I got to know my mother when I was 18. They gave me their reasons for doing what they did. I asked my father where he was all the time I was growing up and he told me where and how and when he was a part of my life. If my kids grow up to ask me why I did what I did, I would certainly explain to them. I didn’t say I didn’t have kids just because I wanted to lie, No. I had my reasons. I had my life to live.

These are such trifling answers, both from 9ice and from Ice Prince, though it’s easy to forgive them because they’ve repented and stepped up to the plate. Others never do, or wait till their children come looking for them as adults, after the single mother must have done all the work in raising the children in all ways.

Dear men, quit being irresponsible, it’s not a good look, especially for men who would be fathers. Please learn to use condoms if you have to have casual sex with women, whether you’re dating them or they’re just one night stands. As long as you’re not ready for fatherhood, either zip up or use a condom!

All these stories in today’s world of social media, how do you think your children will feel when they find out? Be wise and take responsibility for your actions or inactions.

Even if you’re not certain your partner is not dating others, at least stop with the denials till you have a paternity test. Abi?

This article was first published in RomanceMeetsLife.com

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Myne Whitman blogs at www.mynewhitman.com

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.