Veteran Nollywood actress Rita Edochie has weighed in on the ongoing family dispute surrounding the estate of late comic actor John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu, describing the situation as another painful example of the problems associated with polygamy.
The actress made the remarks following the public disagreement between Mr Ibu's widow, Stella Maris, and some of the late actor's children, including those from previous relationships and children reportedly born outside his marriage.
Reacting via her Instagram page, Rita Edochie argued that the current conflict over the late actor's properties highlights the long-term consequences of polygamous family structures.
Expressing her strong opposition to polygamy, Edochie said the practice has caused more harm than good, not only in Nigeria but across Africa.
According to her, many families have experienced division, rivalry and prolonged conflicts as a result of multiple marriages.
She stated that despite efforts by some people to defend or glorify polygamy as part of African culture, its consequences continue to surface in the form of jealousy, unhealthy competition, inheritance disputes, divided loyalties and family crises.
The actress added that such conflicts often become more pronounced after the death of the family patriarch.
Referring to the ongoing disagreement within Mr Ibu's family, Edochie said the public fallout should serve as a lesson to others considering polygamy.
She noted that while every family has its unique circumstances, the dispute over the late actor's estate demonstrates how complicated family relationships can become when multiple spouses and children are involved.
According to her, people should not ignore the realities of such arrangements or assume similar situations cannot happen in their own families.
Edochie maintained that marriage is built on love, trust, commitment, sacrifice and mutual understanding, adding that even monogamous marriages require patience and constant effort to succeed.
She questioned how much more difficult maintaining peace would be in households with multiple spouses and extended family interests.
Her comments have since generated mixed reactions on social media, with some Nigerians agreeing that the ongoing dispute surrounding Mr Ibu's estate reflects the challenges of polygamy, while others argued that family conflicts can occur regardless of the type of marriage involved.