I don't advocate for suffering and smiling - Uche Ogbodo advises women to walk away if marriage isn’t working

Nollywood actress, Uche Ogbodo, has advised women to prioritize self-love and walk away from relationships that no longer meet their needs.

The mother of three, who gave the advice in an interview with punch, described herself as an advocate of fairness in marriage.

According to her, fidelity must go both ways and men should take responsibility for their actions instead of excusing infidelity.

"I am an advocate for 50-50 in marriage. If you want me to be faithful to you, stay faithful to me. You just want (sexual) satisfaction? It’s a desire that you can control. You can control yourself; you are not an animal. Why can’t men stay the same? Why do men always make excuses for their failure? They always make excuses for their stupid behaviours.

said women must first understand who they are and identify their non-negotiables in a relationship," she said.

“First, you have to know who you are as a woman, know your worth, what you want and also love yourself enough. If you love yourself enough and know what your deal-breaker is in a relationship, and your wants and needs are not being met, then what are you doing in that relationship? I am not an advocate for suffering and smiling. If it is not working, you don’t have to die there.” 

She also warned women not to overlook emotional and psychological abuse, stressing that abuse is not limited to physical violence.

"Abuse is not only physical. There’s mental and psychological abuse. When you start to make a woman feel less of herself, you are abusing her mentally and psychologically. You’re making her feel she’s not worth it; that your side chick is better.”

She, however, acknowledged that not all men behave that way.

"Some men are actually well-disciplined, they don’t do these things, they understand the ethics of marriage and good relationships,” she added. 

Ogbodo had announced her separation from her husband, Bobby Maris a few months ago, suggesting she had grown weary of the marriage.

She also questioned why society expects only men to express dissatisfaction in marriage.