“Try Polygamy, Not Divorce” — Nigerian Woman’s Advice Ignites Online Debate
A Nigerian woman has stirred heated debate on social media after advising men in troubled marriages to consider polygamy instead of divorce or domestic violence.
Her comments, which went viral online, have divided public opinion and reignited conversations about modern relationships, religious values, and marital conflict.
In her now widely shared post, the woman encouraged men to remain calm when dealing with difficult partners.
Rather than endure emotional turmoil or resort to aggression, she urged them to “marry a second wife and live in peace,” adding that stress and resentment could lead to hypertension and early death.
“You don’t need to divorce her, and you don’t need to raise your hand either,” she wrote.
She argued that while God hates divorce, polygamy is religiously acceptable. According to her, bringing in a second wife could prompt the first to modify her behaviour due to healthy competition.
“Let the competition be between the two women as they both try to please you,” she added.
The statement has drawn a wave of mixed reactions. While some praised her suggestion as a culturally relevant, faith-aligned strategy for preserving marriages, others criticised it as regressive and potentially harmful.
Detractors argue that framing women as rivals risks reinforcing toxic gender roles and ignores the emotional cost of polygamous dynamics.
Although polygamy remains legal and practised in parts of Nigeria, it continues to be a point of controversy in more urban and progressive circles, where values of emotional equity and partnership are gaining ground.
Marriage counsellors and domestic rights advocates have weighed in, warning that turning to polygamy as a remedy for conflict might deflect from addressing deeper issues such as communication breakdown, emotional neglect, or abuse.
They also emphasise that conflict resolution should be rooted in mutual respect and accountability—not gendered competition.
As the discussion intensifies, many are left weighing the cultural, spiritual, and personal implications of her advice.
The question remains :Is polygamy a genuine pathway to peace, or just a traditional solution to a modern problem?
– MyNewsGh.com
