Nigerian TikToker, Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, has responded to critics questioning his decision to marry at a young age, saying financial struggles — not age — are why many parents delay marriage.
Peller, who is in his early 20s, spoke during a recent TikTok live session while addressing those who had criticised his decision to settle down early.
“Let me tell you something for all of you saying he’s too young to get married. Let me tell you something, the reason your parents lie to you to get to a certain age before you get married, let me tell you the reason behind it, it’s poverty. I swear to Almighty God,” he said.
According to the TikToker, parents often encourage their children to attain a particular age before marriage because they expect them to have started earning money and become financially stable by then.
“They keep telling you to get to a certain age because they know you’d have started making money,” Peller said.
He questioned why critics were more concerned about his age than other factors he considers important in a marriage, including love and financial capacity.
“You all keep saying, how old are we? Are you counting the age or net worth or how much I love her?
‘If you love someone, show it to them,’” he added.
Peller also referred to older generations, claiming that some parents who married in their 30s and 40s did so because they lacked the financial means to marry earlier.
“Our parents that got married in their 30s and 40s, it’s because they didn’t have money then. That’s why. It’s poverty,” he said.