A debate has arisen over who should cover the cost of meals at a birthday celebration dinner—the celebrant or the guests.
The debate ensued after a Nigerian living in the UK alleged that a celebrant was arrested after inviting 40 friends over for dinner to celebrate her birthday but they refused to pay for their meals, insisting it was the celebrant who invited them that should pay.
The X user wrote: "So someone had a birthday dinner last weekend and ended up in police station in Manchester , happened that she invited over 40 guests to her birthday dinner,when it was time for payment she announced on table that everyone would pay for their meals, which her guests declined saying why didn’t she inform them prior to the dinner, wahala happened, fight and scream with the friends, restaurant manager called the police….
"Now my question is why invite people for your birthday dinner and ask them to pay, or rather why not tell them prior to time that they would be paying ?"
The tweet generated divided opinions as some insisted that in Nigerian culture, when you invite people to celebrate with you, it falls on you to feed them.
However, others defended the celebrant, stating that it happened in the UK and the Nigerians there should not expect the Nigerian culture to apply abroad.
One X user wrote: "Nigerians being Nigerians in the abroad.
"Take 40 people out for dinner and expect the celebrant to pay.
"Someone needs to put an abroad starter pack together for you guys with your visas.
"I hope police packed all the people who didn't pay."
See more reactions below.