Pity My Soul? Chike No, Apologize To Frank Edoho First -By Isaac Asabor

There is a particular kind of cowardice that often disguises itself as art. It hides behind emotional lyrics, soulful melodies, and carefully crafted vulnerability. It seeks sympathy from the public while avoiding direct accountability to the person most deeply hurt. That is the uncomfortable impression surrounding singer Chike and the release of his latest song, “Pity My Soul”.

For weeks, social media has been awash with rumours linking Chike romantically with Sandra Onyenucheya, the estranged wife of veteran broadcaster Frank Edoho, the respected former host of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” Frank eventually confirmed that his marriage had ended. Then came leaked audio recordings allegedly involving Sandra and Chike discussing the collapse of the marriage and Frank’s suspicions about their relationship.

Although the recordings have not been officially authenticated, neither have they been convincingly denied. Then, almost as though adding fuel to an already raging fire, Chike released “Pity My Soul”. The timing was impossible to ignore.

You do not release a song with such a title in the middle of a scandal involving accusations of adultery and emotional betrayal without expecting people to interpret it as a statement. Whether intentional or not, the song immediately sounded less like entertainment and more like a plea for public sympathy. And that is precisely where the moral problem lies.

Before asking fans to pity your soul, you first owe an apology to the man whose home has allegedly been torn apart.

In African society, remorse follows a moral order. You do not apologize to spectators before confronting the individual you have wronged. You do not seek understanding from the public while sidestepping accountability in private. Genuine remorse begins where the pain began. That is why many Nigerians are reacting so strongly to this controversy.

Frank Edoho is not just a celebrity trending online. He is a human being whose marriage collapsed under the harsh glare of public scrutiny. His private pain has become social media entertainment. His family, relatives, and loved ones are now forced to watch intimate wounds dissected by strangers.

And amid all this, Chike appears to be asking the public to pity him. If his soul genuinely aches, then that pain should first lead him to Frank Edoho, not to a recording studio. An apology is not a song. It is not a carefully written caption on Instagram. It is not poetic ambiguity hidden inside lyrics. It is a direct acknowledgment of wrongdoing.

It means picking up the phone or meeting face-to-face and saying plainly: “I was wrong. I crossed boundaries I should never have crossed. I contributed to your pain, and I am sorry. “That is what accountability looks like. Anything less risks appearing performative.

The deeper irony in this scandal is what Chike represents culturally. He is not merely another musician. He built his brand as a singer of love, commitment, intimacy, and emotional devotion. His songs have become staples at Nigerian weddings and romantic celebrations. Couples have danced to his voice while pledging lifelong fidelity to each other.

For many Nigerians, Chike’s music symbolizes love in its purest form. That is why these allegations feel especially jarring.

The contradiction between the image and the accusations is too glaring to ignore. The man whose music became the soundtrack to countless weddings now stands accused of participating in the destruction of another man’s marriage.

It is not merely a personal scandal anymore. It is a credibility crisis.

Social commentator VeryDarkMan recently remarked that many husbands may now feel uncomfortable hiring Chike to perform at weddings. That observation may sound harsh, but it reflects a deeper truth about trust and symbolism.

People do not just buy an artist’s music. They also buy the values the artist appears to embody. Right now, many Nigerians feel those values have been compromised.

Still, accountability can redeem what silence cannot. But that redemption cannot begin with emotional songs asking for pity. It must begin with humility, honesty, and direct apology.

Before addressing fans, Chike should address Frank Edoho. Before asking the public for understanding, he should first acknowledge the pain at the center of the controversy.

In fact, before seeking sympathy, he should demonstrate remorse. Because Nigerians, despite the noise and outrage of social media, still respect one thing deeply: accountability. We respect people who confront their mistakes openly instead of hiding behind fame, artistry, or emotional performance.

“Pity My Soul” may be a compelling song title, but pity is not automatically deserved. It is earned through sincerity, humility, and visible efforts to make amends.

Chike has spent years singing beautifully about love. But love without accountability is merely sentiment. And sentiment without responsibility is hollow.

Frank Edoho’s public comments about his broken marriage did not sound theatrical. They sounded like the words of a man deeply wounded by betrayal.

Perhaps Chike’s soul truly deserves pity. But first, he owes Frank Edoho an apology.