Media hounds who have trailed the life of sexy Nollywood top actress, Ini Edo appear not to have given the actress a breather. The ink in her marriage certificate had hardly dried when stories and rumours of marital woes started swirling.
A close family friend of the couple, Ekerete Udoh who publishes the famous Diaspora Star, based in America said that in the weeks following Ini’s marriage, Diaspora Star received close to a 100 anonymous calls and mails from all over the world, about problems the couple was experiencing.
Among some of the reasons that those sources offered as being responsible for the alleged marital fissures were financial woes on the part of the husband, Philips Ehigiwina and Ini’s decision to make Nigeria her base as opposed to Houston, Texas, where her husband resides. Others said Ini was pregnant and had lost the baby, a situation that had caused some friction between the couple.
When the Diaspora Star finally contacted Ini, she was very angry at the baseless accusations. “My marriage,” she stated authoritatively, “is not in jeopardy in any form, shape or fashion. My marriage is rock-solid, love-defined, emotion –laden and deeply infectious. I have never been so happy in my life. My husband is the best man any woman can ever hope to have.
“When I signed the dotted line, I pledged to love my husband for better or worse through good health and sickness. I am determined to honour those vows and those naysayers who have other thoughts in their minds are wasting their time.
“They had better deploy their ill-defined energies elsewhere. My marriage will last as long as God gives us life.”
Asked to comment on some of the allegations about financial woes, Ini laughed and stated as a matter-of-fact, “My husband is the best provider ever! I have never seen a man who goes out of his way to provide his wife with everything that makes life comfortable.
“Even though I have made money from the industry, my husband does not allow me to spend it on things he believes reside in the realms of the husband. For instance, in all my travels to the US, my husband has never allowed me to purchase my own tickets.
“He flies me First Class. Where did these haters get their brief? My husband is not broke and for this we give God the glory for his blessings.”
On the allegation that she has made Nigeria her home instead of Houston, Texas where her husband lives, Ini laughed: “I spend most of my time in Houston, and only travel to Africa to shoot movies, and I am usually back to Houston the moment the task is finished.
“When I married my husband, he knew that I am an actress, and that I will continue to be one, as long as God gives me the strength to do so.
“He allows me the freedom to pursue my career and for this I am grateful for his understanding.
“I know the husband I married and he remains the best man any woman can aspire to have, and I count myself lucky to be his wife. My marriage is erected on solid foundation, and that foundation will never crack or show signs of strains.”
Philips Ehigiwina, like his wife Ini Edo, was totally pained and distraught by the allegations of marital split bordering on financial difficulties.
“This has been the most reckless and insensitive allegation that I have yet encountered. Who feeds them these kinds of falsehood?
“I am not broke, neither do we have any marital problems at all. My wife is provided for, totally by me. Our wedding, which was a lavish affair, was totally bankrolled by me. My wife is the best-dressed actress today in Nollywood. I’m not saying this to elicit envy, but it is a fact.
“We just got a new house in Lekki- (the most fashionable part of Lagos) and my wife rides the latest brand of Lincoln Navigator, alongside two other choice automobiles. I am a responsible man who takes the role of a husband seriously.
“The diamond ring I bought for my wife was taken by armed robbers in Lagos, shortly after our wedding. She was very distraught by the loss, but I told her not to worry, that I’d get her another one, which I did.”
On the allegation that his wife’s miscarriage caused a lot of friction, Philips was almost drawn to tears as he spoke, “This is a very painful thing for any reasonable person to say. My wife was never pregnant, not to talk of having a miscarriage.
“I think the reason why people are spreading these rumours is because I no longer fraternise in certain circles that I used to, before I got married.
“I believe that once one is married, you should wean yourself from certain circles, which is what I have done. Unfortunately, this has caused my haters to spawn all kinds of rumours.
“Ini and I are joined by the hip and nothing, and I mean it, nothing will separate us.”
(Diaspora Star Adapted)