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Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo, a relationship coach and counsellor, has defended his decision to get a tattoo, arguing that Christianity should not be boxed and reduced to rigid rules or personal preferences imposed on others.
Speaking during an interview on News Central TV, Okonkwo said he has always been comfortable with tattoos and does not see them as contradictory to his faith.
He stated that the controversy surrounding it reflects misplaced priorities and an excessive focus on personal choices rather than Christian values.
“You can’t put Christianity in one box,” Okonkwo said. “We can’t put people in a cage because of our personal preference.”
He stressed that body markings are not inherently wrong, describing them as a normal form of self-expression.
“Marking is normal,” he said.
“Somebody needs to sit me down and spell out, oh, tattoos are bad because if somebody draws an ink on their body, their brain goes bad, if somebody draws an ink on their body, their character suddenly goes bad and they must give me scriptural proof, scientific proof or something to back this thought up.
“Everbody is shouting tattoos, nobody can tell me why tattoo is bad. It is just bad because, no reason.”
Okonkwo said his role as a pastor does not include policing how others choose to live, urging believers to shift their attention back to the core of the Christian faith.
“Focus on Christ, that is what Christianity is about.”
He noted that freedom of choice is central to Christian teaching, insisting that believers should operate within that liberty.
The pastor also questioned why his appearance had become a subject of national discussion, warning that such attitudes reflect a slow down in development.
“With the level of exposure we have in Nigeria, I assumed it would not be a big deal. But the conversation has shown that we might be growing in numbers but it seems we are not really growing in revelation or understanding of what the gospel really is.
“When is Africa going to catch up with development if we are still thinking this way?”
The comments come as a widespread debate on social media following images of Okonkwo’s tattoo, with opinions sharply divided among religious and cultural commentators.
