By Clinton Asuoha
Polygamy might be a highly criticized phenomenon within the Nigerian celebrity space. Still, quite a number of them are involved in it, even though many of them frown and reject it. In as much as there is strong opposition to polygamy, the practice has triumphed in some homes and has crumbled other homes.
1. Ooni of Ife : Oba Enitan Adeyeye Oguwusi, Ojaja II, recently held the entire media space of Nigeria to arrest as the news of his series of marriages rented the air. The Ooni of Ife broke records between September and early November as he went on a marriage streak. In the space of 45 days, the Yoruba monarch wedded six new wives, and they were not just any type of women but some of the best. One of the new women in the Ooni’s harem is a renowned lawyer, fashion mogul and award-winning philanthropist. At the same time, another is a billionaire businesswoman with investments in the oil and gas sector. To see a Nigerian monarch marry more than one wife is not mainly a new story. Instead, the duration at which the six new Olori’s were all wedded and the calibre of women welcomed into the Oba’s harem made it a massive topic for public discussion.
2. Yul Edochie:– Yul Edochie makes this list following his marriage to the Nollywood actress Judy Austin. The star actor married his teenage heartthrob May Edochie in 2004, and after eighteen years of marriage, he decided to add a new woman to his harem. He came under fire from many fans across the country and received backlash from colleagues in the industry. His second marriage made tongues wag and stirred a lot of media attention. The actor’s legendary Thespian father, Pete Edochie, has also shed light on the situation from his angle, where he noted that he wasn’t happy about what his son did. However, he credited Yul for doing something only a wise man like King Solomon could do. Yul claims his family has no strife and that he and May are still legally married. Yul and May have four children together.
3. Ahmed Musa: Famous Super Eagles footballer and Nigeria’s record-highest goalscorer at the world cup, Ahmed Musa, is another celebrity who is also a polygamist. The football star announced in 2022 that he married a new wife and welcomed a child with the new woman. Ahmed Musa has been married to four women, with his first two marriages crashing. In 2019 the former Leicester City forward officially took a third wife; in 2022, he added another one.
4. Portable Habeeb Okikiola, better known as Portable, is a Nigerian singer and rapper who rose to fame in 2021 following the release of his single with Olamide and Poco Lee titled Zazu. Always around a controversial story, Portable allegedly took a second wife, who recently had a child for the singer. His first wife, Bewaji, has come out a couple of times to corroborate the news while debunking the rumour that there is a rift between her and her husband’s new bride, Ashabi. Portable recently took to his page to share photos of his latest baby mama and his little boy, praising God for giving him a wonderful gift.
5. Hassan Taiwo:- Hassan Taiwo, better known as Ogogo, is another well-known polygamist in the entertainment industry. He started his acting career in the early 1980s, having prior worked as an auto mechanic with the Lagos State Water Corporation. Ogogo has done very well in creating a divide between his career and private life, making fans hold him in high regard. His wives are Ajoke Taiwo and Taibat Taiwo.
6. Ned Nwoko: Famous billionaire businessman and politician Prince Ned Nwoko, over the last 5 years after his very public marriage to young Nollywood actress Regina Daniels, Ned have constantly been in the news advocating for polygamy. The celebrity politician is officially reported to be married to six wives, with four of these women quite well-known within the public domain. Ned’s most popular wives are his Moroccan wife, Laila Charani (fourth wife), Barrister Lily Nwoko (first wife), Lina Nwoko (fifth wife), and his youngest wife, Regina Daniels (sixth wife).
7. Jide Kosoko:- Jide Kosoko a veteran septogenerian actor who is also known for being polygamous. Jide Kosoko (born 12 January 1954) is a Nigerian actor, director and producer. He was born into a royal family, hence his traditional title of prince or “omoba” in the Yoruba language. He’s married to 2 wives, Henrietta Kosoko and Karima Kosoko. He is known to be the biological father of six children which are Bidemi, Shola, Temilade, Tunji, Muyiwa, and Tunde Kosoko.
