 |
| Image: Facebook |
Popular interior designer and entrepreneur Ehi Ogbebor has spoken candidly about the painful lessons from her two failed marriages, using her experience to urge women to prioritise their mental health and self-worth rather than remain trapped in toxic unions.
In a deeply personal video shared on her Instagram page, the 38-year-old reflected on how her first marriage, which began at a very young age, nearly cost her everything — including her child.
“I got married at 18, and by 20 I was out. I almost lost my son to a deranged, abusive marriage at five or six months. I left in 2007; my son was just 10 months old, and I was only 20 when I ran to Lagos,” Ogbebor recounted.
According to her, leaving the marriage was not just about ending a relationship but about survival. She explained that the emotional toll of trying to hold a broken marriage together can be devastating for women, a reality she described with a term she coined — “Mumuraige.”
“You see a woman with so much to give becoming mentally destabilised because she’s trying to save a marriage for a man who will never appreciate her,” she explained.
Ogbebor said she decided to speak openly now because she has seen too many women lose years of their lives trying to fix relationships that were already beyond repair. She referenced the experience of a close friend who endured nearly two decades of emotional struggle, only to be discarded without warning.
“It is painful. A man she stayed with for 18 years just woke up one day and said he was no longer interested. A man who cannot even afford to take care of his family,” she said.
While acknowledging that marriage can be beautiful and fulfilling when it works, Ogbebor stressed that women must learn to recognise when a relationship has reached a dead end. According to her, perseverance should not come at the cost of dignity and sanity.
“I have been married twice. I’m not saying run at the first issue, but women need to know when a marriage is at a deadlock. I’m not saying run anytime you have an issue, but you need to have a brain. You need to learn to stand up and face them,” she stated.
She warned against tolerating disrespect under the guise of patience or sacrifice, adding that staying too long in an unhealthy relationship can damage not just the woman, but her children as well.
“Don’t allow these men to just think you’re a piece of trash and just talk down on you. You’re going to look like a weak mother. Don’t waste 10 years, or 17 years of your life. Who told you your soulmate is not one billionaire in Saudi Arabia or in the south of France,” Ogbebor said.
Beyond her marriages, Ogbebor’s personal life has often attracted public attention. In January 2021, she confirmed her relationship with Musiliu ‘MC Oluomo’ Akinsanya, the national president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). The relationship later ended, further placing her private life under public scrutiny.
Despite the heartbreaks and setbacks, Ogbebor described herself as stronger, wiser and unapologetic about choosing herself. She emphasised that walking away from a harmful marriage should not be seen as failure, but as courage.
Her message, she said, is not about encouraging divorce, but about empowering women to recognise their value, protect their peace and understand that staying alive — emotionally and mentally — is more important than keeping up appearances.
Through her story, Ogbebor hopes more women will find the strength to choose themselves when love becomes pain.
No comments:
Post a Comment