Rising spate of tattoo designs worry parents, clergyman

Benin – Some parents in Benin have decried the rising spate of young men and women wearing tattoo on their body in the name of fashion.
Mrs Taiwo Egwakhide, a school teacher in Benin on Wednesday said that she disliked tattoos and would not allow her children to wear them no matter how beautiful.
Egwakhide said that tattoo was a Western habit, adding that Nigerians were in the habit of imitating the Western world in everything they did whether right or wrong.
“Anything the whiteman does, most Nigerians will begin to do, whether good or bad. How can somebody just sit down and you begin to draw tattoo on your body?
“It means that you do not like the way God created you and you want to add to it by designing tattoo on your body. I see it as an immoral act.
“It is a satanic thing, it makes you look dirty physically and spiritually,’’ she said.
Mr Monday Erabor, a businessman and a parent, simply prayed not to catch any of his children wearing tattoo, and said, “hell will be let loose for any of them that tries it”.
Mr Austin Orhue, a tattoo designer in Benin, described his business as a successful one, adding that tattoo had become a fashion in Nigeria and the world.


A supporter of Liberian opposition presidential candidate
Winston Tubman shows her Tubman's CDC party tattoo
AFP PHOTO



Orhue said that tattoos added value to those, who wear it, adding that it brought out the beauty of those, who wear tattoo.

He said that tattoo designing vary from permanent, temporary, laser and sticker tattoo, noting that all the processes were not really painful.
He, however, said that those, who “wear tattoo cannot donate blood to any body in need of blood until about eight to nine  months after putting on the design.
Orhue said that he learnt how to design tattoo in Spain, adding that he had been able to make a living out of it.
“Since there is no work anywhere, I decided to engage myself in tattoo business instead of sitting idle. And I take care of myself and my family from this business,” he said.
One of those wearing tattoo, Miss Blessing Obemudia, said she liked it and noted that “tattoo is meant for the big boys and big babes”.
Prof. Ewan Alufkhai, a Surgeon, and former Vice-Chancellor of the Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, said that there was no prove to show the medical side effect of tattoo on the human body.
Alufkha explained that tattoo wearing started with the lesbians and the gays, stressing that “it has now became a fashion trend for those who wear it”.
“I think it is a thing of interest for those who wear tattoo. It is fashion according to them,’’ he said.
A Cleric, Mr James Achala, a Pastor of the Deliverance Prayer Ministry, described the act as satanic. adding that tattoo freaks no matter the reasons had lost faith in God.
Achala enjoined Christians to endeavour to follow what God commanded. (NAN)

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