“I was a Ladies’ Man, my House was Almost Turned to a Brothel”- Jide Kosoko

Jide Kosoko opens up on the trials and pains of being a polygamist.

In a recent interview, veteran actor, Jide Kosoko opens up on the loss of his wives and how he was so into women. He talked about the pains of being a polygamist and how he regretted marrying several wives. The Veteran actor told Punch that with over a dozen children, he doesn’t need another wife.

Extracts below:

On marrying a new wife, he said;

At my age and with over a dozen children, why should I marry another wife? I still have a wife, but people are mixing things up. I have heard many terrible things about me. There was a time some people said I have moved in with another woman. They have forgotten that my wife, who is still with me, Alhaja Bimbo, was a senior to my late wife, Henrietta. The first child we had together has graduated in America, but they think I just got a new wife. She is the only woman left with me. What do I need another wife for? Maybe you can tell me. Becoming a polygamist wasn’t my design. With my upbringing, I am not supposed to be a polygamist. Though my father was a polygamist, he didn’t marry the number of women I have married. My first wife, Sola’s mother, was working with the Nigerian Customs Service. She was not involved in my industry and then I would travel for two months. So, I was tempted to take a second wife. But unfortunately for me, in the circumstances I cannot explain till today, I lost two wives within a year. You can imagine that! So, I decided not to remarry again, though I had girlfriends; I was a ladies’ man.  Two of my girlfriends were very close to the house and my friends too would come with their girlfriends. So, we were almost turning the house into a brothel. Later, my doctor, a lady, visited me and advised me to remarry. She said it was the best for me, insisting that I was too young to be without a woman. I lost my two wives in 1992 and 1993 respectively, and I was not up to 40 then. I agreed to take a wife in the long run, but I had two women who were intimate with me – Henrietta and Alhaja Bimbo. Since I couldn’t say no to either of them, I married two wives again.

Regrets of marrying more than one wife.

At a point, when I started having issues, yes, I regretted. I said to myself that if I didn’t have more than a wife, I would not be in the news in a bad light. But am I the only one that has domestic family problems? I don’t think I am the only one. Without being too negative or defensive, we have seen a family where the children, father, and mother died at the same time.I thank God for all that might have happened to me. But regrets come when there are issues. But all my wives have given me beautiful and responsible children.

He added that he misses Henrietta as they were together in the industry for 22 years. She had her shortcomings and he had his, Jide said but they endured each other.