I went to the cinema on Wednesday to watch the film, ISOKEN. It was hilarious and taught a lot of lessons, some of which I want to share today.

The heroine of the film, Isoken committed a cardinal sin. Now what is a CARDINAL SIN? The Oxford Dictionary defines it as a mistake condemned by people or a serious sin in the Christian church. It sounds like an unforgivable sin!

The innocent Isoken was considered a SINNER because she DARED to remain single while her mates and juniors were getting married at the drop of a hat.

I looked at the inscription on this banner and felt it did not reflect the true situation in Nigeria.

It should read:

Nigerian LADY (With the emphasis on lady), over 30, Successful but not yet married…..Cardinal Sin!

Oh yes! The ladies feel the heat more.

That’s why the single man is called ELIGIBLE BACHELOR while the single lady is called MS which I am told stands for MISERABLE SPINSTER!

Sad but that is the true picture. The single lady is treated like she has committed a CARDINAL SIN!

So Isoken goes through several humiliating experiences because she is single. And as those who watch the film feel her pains and rejoice at her victory in the end, one question stands out.

Why should singleness be considered a CARDINAL SIN? Especially for the women who are meant to be found and not built to chase the men? Should a lady settle for just any man to please society and remain miserable?

By the way, if the ladies in their thirties have committed a Cardinal Sin by remaining single, what of those that are forty and above and still single?

Maybe theirs is the ORIGINAL SIN!

I still remember two lines from the film:
“It doesn’t matter what you achieve as a single lady. You can find the cure for AIDS but as long as you don’t bring a man home or pop out the babies, your life does not count.”

“Oftentimes the years roll by and very soon you are the only single lady in your school reunion.”

Family members mock you. Brethren brand you a sinner who has offended God so much that he has punished you with singleness. Your junior colleagues disrespect you, your married friends alienate you and you sometimes wonder if God made a mistake creating you. And you feel like getting married to just anyone to take away what society unfortunately calls the STIGMA OF SINGLENESS.

But this is WRONG! Singleness is not a stigma though the two words start with “s.”

It is time to stop all this sometimes silent and many times open ridicule of mature single ladies.

It is time to put sin in its proper perspective.

It is time to let ladies take their time to CHOOSE THE BEST and refuse to SETTLE FOR LESS.

It is time to do things right.

And for the ISOKENS of this world and their OLDER COUNTERPARTS, know that God does not see sin the way man does.

Believe that he prepares a table for you; a feast of fat things.