The many recent tales of divorce, violence, abuse, etc, leaves
little to be desired of the holy and sanctimonious estate of matrimony.
Moving on when a relationship ends -due to any number of reasons- can
be a painful experience filled with sweat, tears and even blood.
Referencing the line in late Aaliyah’s ‘Try Again‘, “If at first you don’t succeed, you can pick it up and try again, dust yourself up and try again,” Olisa TV presents this list of four influential Nigerians who convince us that a second marriage might be the long awaited prize.
Monalisa Chinda Coker
Monalisa is slowly climbing the Nollywoood echelon to becoming a
veteran. The multi-award winning actress and host of the talk-show ‘You
& I’, was married to record label executive, Dejo Richards, with
whom she shares a daughter. Their’s seemed like a story culled from a
fairy tale, in 2004. But alas, when the camera dimmed and there was no
audience to play pretense for, the Ikwere princess was reduced to a
punching bag, beaten black and blue on numerous occasions.
After enduring physical and emotional abuse for years, she finally
picked up her courage and dignity and walked out of the marriage in 2009
.
Some people would think that a Monalisa would typically opt to remain
single the rest of her life, given her terrible experience at matrimony
the first time. No, not her, she took the risk and 7 years after the
bitter experience and scars of an abusive relationship, the 41 year old
married her gentleman husband, Mr Victor Tonye Coker in a beautiful
ceremony in February this year.
Richard Mofe Damijo
Sean Connery has nothing on debonair, handsome and classic gentleman
Richard Mofe Damijo. The actor became a household name in the
entertainment industry over 30 years ago with his characterisation of
Segun Kadiri- the handsome player in Amaka Igwe’s Checkmate. He
lost his first wife May Ellen Ezekiel Damijo, a beautiful and vivacious
writer, editor and tv host, to complications relating to a fibroid
surgery in 1996. The distraught young man was left to play father and
mother to their 2 young sons alongside managing his successful acting
career which had enough pressure on its own.
Introducing Jumobi Adegbesan; fresh-faced beauty and presenter of the mid-day show, Lunch-break with Jumobi on Africa Independent Television. A beauty who half of Nigerian men were lusting after (RMD sure has a thing for tv presenters).
The two got married in 2000, 4 years after May’s death and are nothing
short of living out their own happily-ever-after, with the actor
showering his wife of 16 praises on social media from time to time.
Stephanie Linus
A wedding in Paris is a high-point in romance and that was what
screen goddess Stephanie Linus opted for when she married international
media consultant and CNN accredited agent in Nigeria, Linus Idahosa in
April 2012. The couple who are very private and celebrated their fourth
year-anniversary recently, welcomed their son Maxwell Enosata Linus in
October 2015 and seem to be waxing stronger in their love for each
other.
Rewind to 2004, the former beauty queen followed the traditional
trend of beauty queens marrying footballers when she snagged ex-Super
Eagles player, Chikelue Iloanusi off the market on August 31, 2004.
The screen goddess who moved out of her matrimonial home in January
2007 cited treachery, infidelity, bigamy, physical assault among others
as reasons for seeking to dissolve her 3-year marriage in 2007, she even
sued her ex-husband for N100m.
Though the footballer denied the claims and raised counter-accusations
blaming the actress’ mother as being instrumental in the break-up of the
marriage despite him standing by Stephanie throughout her recovery from
an accident in 2005 which left her burnt and almost claimed her life, a
Lagos court declared their union null and void in 2012.
Pator Taiwo Odukoya
The death of late Pastor Bimbo Odukoya on 10 December 2005 as result
of the Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145 crash shook Nigeria, but closer
home, her husband, Taiwo Odukoya and their 3 children were left
distraught. The church which they pastored together in the Ilupeju part
of Lagos was in shock and many wondered how the amiable Pator Taiwo
would move on from that loss given that he and the late Bimbo were not
just husband and wife but also best friends.
However, a preaching engagement in London, made Odukoya set eyes on
the South African beauty, Nomthi, and in January 2010, they made it
official with his second trip down the aisle. Sources close to the
family attest that the man of God has never been happier.
Love hurt you the first time? Marriage was a bitter experience? Don’t
give up, your happily-ever-after might be closer than you realise.
Written By Tofunmi Oluwashina and was first published on Olisa.TV.