Nollywood actor, Emeka Ike has called for regulation of social media in Nigeria to prevent abuse and defamation of character that is rampant in the space.
He also cautioned actress, Iyabo Ojo, and others like her that are quick to jump to the defence of every woman that claims to be abused by their spouses, because the claimants could be lying.
Ike spoke on Channels Television programme, Rubbin’ Minds hosted by Hero Daniels.
A clip of the no-holds-barred interview is currently trending on social media, especially X.
The Herald earlier reported that Ike said domestic abuse allegations made by his ex-wife, Suzanne Emma, caused him to lose his properties and access to his kids.
Part of what he lost, he said, was his N480 million school, St. Nicholas College, Magodo, Lagos.
He insisted that he never beat his wife, who divorced him in 2017, as she claimed.
Asked why he did not come out to clear the air on social media at the time, the actor said, “It is difficult to clarify because the same people that are bullying you on the internet are still there.
“Whatever you say, they’ll say, ‘no, he’s still missing her. Move on.’ and make you feel like, what’s going on?
“And if you’re not prepared to handle it, you’ll be crushed.”
Ike added, “I feel sorry for young men like you, I don’t know if you’re married. I was telling someone at Aminu Kano International Airport – I just came in from Saudi Arabia last night. I am like, ‘I’m sorry for the young men like you that are not married because the narrative out there is that it is all about the money.’ And when they (the women) come, they don’t like you for nothing. You are just a ‘blackmail issue’. And you must be popular, you must be rich, you must be a very strong banker, and a successful man to be a woman beater.
“No carpenter is a woman beater on the social (media) space. No bricklayer is a woman beater on the social space. You have to be successful.
“And there are people like Iyabo Ojo that are always there to back them up… Your experience as Iyabo Ojo might not be the same thing with that lady because that could be a criminal.
“Anybody who interacts with assassins, gunmen is a criminal, male or female.
“So, we need to understand that the social space is polluted in Nigeria.
“I am a resident in Germany. My family also lives in Nuremberg. You don’t put everything out there. You just don’t go on air and post anything.
“So when I hear people say ‘It’s my right’. I say, ‘Your right to abuse me? To give me wrong image?’ And sorry is all I get for it?’
“Somebody needs to regulate our social space.”