Ivie Atuwatse III, wife of Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri, told BBC News Pidgin she will not accept another wife for her husband and described herself as “like three women”.
Vanguard reported the comments on Saturday, saying Ivie spoke about the pleasures and pressures of married life with the traditional ruler in a recent interview with BBC News Pidgin. She said she enjoys seeing people celebrate her husband, and that public admiration gives her joy.
“The thing wey I like about being married to His Majesty is that, all the fame or the popularity wey him get, na say I get to see the world celebrate his genius, his swag also, cos me too I dey celebrate am,” she told the broadcaster, according to Vanguard.
She said the praise he receives “dey ginger” her and makes her proud. At the same time, she acknowledged that the duties of the Olu can limit the time they spend together, using a proverb to describe the tension.
“But on the other side, dem say food wey dey sweet sometimes flies dey like to chop from am,” she said. “Sometimes e dey busy and it can be hard to want to share my husband with all the many different duties that he has, and so that can be equally difficult.”
Vanguard said Ivie added that she and the Olu are learning to adjust. Vanguard said Ivie added in her interview with BBC News Pidgin, “And so, we are learning to navigate it because sometimes I just want him to myself,” the report said.
The interviewer asked whether she would accept another wife if the Olu changed his previously stated position on polygamy. According to Vanguard, Ivie dismissed the idea and said she was confident he would not change his mind.
“Firstly, His Majesty no go fit change him mind about polygamy. Make we just settle that one for there,” she said. “Me alone, one me, I be like three women, so I dey alright for am.”
Vanguard published the account of the interview. The outlet carried the quotes and details above from the BBC News Pidgin conversation, as reported by Vanguard.
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