Veteran Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, has revealed that there are times she questions her decision to marry her husband, Captain Matthew Ekeinde, stressing that marriage is not always about being “lovey-dovey.”
The actress made the disclosure during an interview on the Chude Jideonwo Podcast, excerpts of which have gone viral on X.
Omotola, who has been married to Captain Ekeinde for decades, said she and her husband understand that they are individuals with separate journeys and have chosen to remain together through mutual commitment rather than obligation.
She said there are moments when she wakes up and wonders why she chose her husband, describing such moments as part of the realities of marriage.
“There are times when I wake up and I’m like, somebody needs to remind me why I chose this guy again. Because right now I can’t remember. I’m at loss of memory right now,” she said.
The actress also acknowledged that she sometimes notices other men and wonders what could have been, stressing that such thoughts do not necessarily undermine her commitment to her marriage.
Omotola said her commitment to her husband goes beyond romantic feelings, explaining that her marriage is also anchored on her faith and shared values.
She said she remains committed to her husband because she chooses love and believes she has a divine mandate to stand by him.
According to her, there are times when she does not feel deeply in love with her husband, but she chooses to honour him because of her faith and commitment to their marriage.
Omotola also said she and her husband give each other space and respect their individual choices, adding that their shared value system has helped sustain their relationship.
She said: “I’m with you because I choose to be with you. He’s with me because he chooses to be with me. So we respect each other’s choices, each other’s space, and each other’s wholesomeness.”
The actress cautioned couples against expecting marriage to be perfect, stressing that openness, communication and understanding are essential to sustaining relationships.
“Don’t think that when you’re married to someone, it’s always going to be lovey-dovey. That’s not why I got married to him,” she said.
Omotola urged couples to recognise their humanity, discuss their differences openly and avoid creating a false impression of a perfect marriage.
She added that having a good value system can make navigating the challenges of marriage easier.
