“Leave Unhealthy Marriage” – Yul Edochie Warns Couples

Nollywood actor and filmmaker Yul Edochie has caused a stir online with his blunt advice to couples in troubled marriages. He shared his thoughts on his Facebook page using a domestic violence case as a backdrop for his message. His advice has sparked conversations about relationships, marriage, and domestic abuse.

In his post, Edochie spoke about a woman who was burnt by her husband, an act that left him heartbroken and disturbed. He used the incident to emphasize that human life is more important than societal pressure to stay married

In his words, “If your marriage is not working, leave. Leave, walk away,” he said. “I saw the video of the lady that was burnt by her husband & it broke my heart. Those having marital issues, listen up: Even if you catch your wife with another man, there’s no excuse to harm her. If you catch your husband with another woman, there’s no excuse to harm him. Don’t kill another human being because of marriage. Marriage is not do or die. Walk away.”

Edochie’s words hit home, especially in a society where cultural and religious beliefs make us endure bad marriages. He’s challenging those norms by saying safety, mental health, and personal well-being should come first before societal expectations.

His words also bring to light a growing issue: the rising domestic violence in Nigeria. Reports say between January and October, an average of 10 women or girls were killed monthly in Nigeria, either by intimate partners or strangers, mostly due to gender-based violence. This statistic shows how urgent it is to address the root cause of such incidents and create space for victims. Despite the VAPP Act of 2015 which criminalizes various forms of abuse, domestic violence is still a big issue in many Nigerian homes.

Experts and activists say cultural stigmas around divorce keep victims trapped in abusive relationships with limited options to escape. Financial dependence, fear of societal judgment, and lack of support systems are some of the reasons people stay in abusive marriages. Edochie’s words are a reminder that leaving a toxic or dangerous relationship is not only allowed but sometimes necessary.

His words have got mixed reactions from the public. While many have commended him for being bold to talk about such a sensitive issue, others have said he’s not a good role model because of his personal controversies. But his message is still loud and clear: no one should die for marriage and walking away from a harmful situation is always better than being violent.

See his post below:

https://web.facebook.com/share/p/1Dzk7AWv2J/