Veteran Nollywood actor Jide Kosoko has addressed widespread misconceptions about his marital life, clarifying that he was never married to four wives at the same time.
Speaking on The Honest Bunch podcast, Kosoko explained that while he has been in polygamous marriages, he did not have four wives concurrently. He revealed that he initially married two women but tragically lost them before marrying two others.
“I didn’t have four wives at the same time, o! Don’t get it wrong because people are misinterpreting it,” he said. “I had two, I lost them, and then I married another two.”
Despite his personal experience, the seasoned actor stated that he does not advocate for polygamy, acknowledging that not everyone may be as fortunate as he has been in managing family dynamics.
Kosoko highlighted the complexities of polygamous households, particularly in situations where financial constraints affect how celebrations, such as children’s birthdays, are handled.
“In some polygamous homes, mothers have children from different backgrounds. If one child’s birthday is celebrated lavishly while another’s falls at a time when I’m not financially buoyant, my wives and children understand,” he explained.
He emphasized that his approach to parenting is based on love and fairness rather than rigid equality in material gifts.
“If it’s your birthday and I have money, I will celebrate it. If I don’t, that’s just how it is. But my children know I love them in other ways, so they understand,” he said.
Kosoko also recounted how his children remind him about their birthday gifts when he has the means, and he ensures they eventually receive them. However, he maintained that his decisions are not influenced by competition between co-wives or their children.
“But don’t tell me that because I bought something for your co-wife’s son, I must also buy for your son. If you do that, you lose it. That’s not how I operate,” he stated.
