By Felicia Odom 4.10.2026
Veteran Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, said her marriage to husband, Captain Matthew Ekeinde, was not necessarily out of love, but out of choice.
Omotola made the remarks in a chat on the Chude Jideonwo Podcast, saying that at times she wondered if she really loves her husband of 30 years, but according to her God had always told her to keep going with the marriage.
“There are times when I wake up and I’m like; somebody needs to remind me why I chose this guy again. Because right now I can’t remember. I’m at loss of memory right now,” Omotola said.
“I’m not with him because I love him all the time. I’m with him because I choose love, because God has given me a mandate to be by his side, and vice versa.
“So, the times when I see him and I’m not too much in love with him, I report him to God. And I’m like, hey, what’s up now? Should I sustain this? Are you going to make it come around? Because right now, he’s not looking good.
“So I am honouring him, not because I love him too much, but because I am honouring one who is above him, who has given me the mandate to be with him.
“I’m with you because I choose to be with you. He’s with me because he chooses to be with me. So we respect each other’s choices, each other’s space, and each other’s wholesomeness.”
She added that marriage is not always perfect, but what makes it work is openness and communication.
“Don’t think that when you’re married to someone, it’s always going to be lovey-dovey. That’s not why I got married to him,” she said.
“But when you choose someone as a partner in life, be open with them. Discuss things with them. And if God helps you and you have a good value system, life will be easier.”