Former presidential aide and outspoken social commentator, Reno Omokri, has sparked a fresh wave of online debate after declaring that only virgins deserve to have bride price paid for them. He described any monetary demand for non-virgins as “extortion.”

In a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, Omokri argued that many people in sub-Saharan Africa misunderstand the difference between “dowry” and “bride price,” noting that the two originate from distinct cultural and religious traditions.

“Dowry refers to the wealth a woman’s family gives her upon marriage — property she brings into her new home. Bride price, on the other hand, is a cultural and religious obligation strictly for virgins,” Omokri said.

Citing biblical references, including Exodus 22:17, Isaiah 62:5, Jeremiah 2:32, and Song of Solomon 4:12, he insisted that Scripture consistently associates the term “bride” with virginity.

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Omokri also drew from Yoruba traditions, particularly the Lukumi aso funfun (white cloth) ritual, used to confirm a bride’s virginity on the wedding night. According to him, if virginity was not confirmed, the bride price was returned and the marriage annulled.

He further referenced the biblical account of King David, who paid a bride price for Michal, daughter of Saul, but none for Abigail, suggesting virginity was the determining factor.

“Bride price for a non-virgin is not only unbiblical, it is exploitation. Demanding large sums from a man’s family in such cases is extortion, not tradition,” he stated.

Omokri also warned that drifting away from traditional moral values could worsen Africa’s social problems, including unstable families and rising STD rates.

In his closing remarks, he criticized white weddings as a European, not African or Christian, tradition — pointing out that in Europe, it is the bride’s family who pays for the ceremony.