Public policy expert Dr Joe Abah has called on men to handle relationship breakdowns with maturity, especially when children are involved.
His advice follows the public marital drama between actress Regina Daniels and her husband, Senator Ned Nwoko, which has dominated social media conversations.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Dr Abah stressed that protecting a woman’s dignity during tough times isn’t just about respect, it’s about your children and your own integrity as a father.
He wrote:
“When you fall out with a woman that has had children for you, you must do everything possible not to destroy her, no matter how angry you are.
You must restrain yourself for the sake of your children, and for your own dignity as a man and a father. I am Ezemmuo. I know things.”
Dr Abah’s message sparked plenty of discussion online, with many praising his wisdom while others shared more nuanced views.
Edozie John said:
“It is also up to the man to show leadership, even when you believe it’s not your fault. The children, and even your hated spouse, will be grateful for the sacrifice in the future.”
Imago Dei reflected:
“Restraint is such an important virtue. Though sometimes you want to utterly destroy people who wrong you.”
Mazi Uche added:
“It’s good to stay calm when you’re angry, but being a good father is more than just not hurting her. You have to support your kids and act with love.”
However, Halal Finance pointed out that things aren’t always straightforward:
“True, doc. But it doesn’t always play out that neatly. Some women go for the man’s peace, reputation, even his relationship with his kids.”
Kalu Samuel Uko weighed in on the Regina-Ned situation specifically:
“Ned is an elder statesman and highly regarded in Nigeria. The least I expected from him was to nip his marital problems in the bud and not wash his dirty linen in public.”
