Veteran Nollywood actor Emeka Ike has sounded a warning about relationships, arguing that some people are using romance as a "meal ticket" to exploit others for financial gain.
In an interview with BBC Pidgin, the veteran actor distinguished between genuine love and relationships entered into for ulterior motives, describing the latter as a form of deception.
"Love is beautiful, relationship is beautiful to find person wey like you. Sweet matter," Ike said. "But when you are liking him for an end that he's not aware of, that is a scam."
He argued that many people, particularly women, enter relationships not out of love but for what they can get from their partners, warning that such behaviour undermines the sanctity of marriage and romance.
"Plenty girls are going to relationship because of what they want to get, wetin they want collect from the man. This one, they should just go and be doing a baby mama and be venue for money, not using relationship. Relationship is supposed to be sacred. Love is the foundation. Love is the pillar of every good relationship."
The actor also addressed the influence of social media and online narratives, urging young women not to listen to those whose marriages have failed.
"Make Nigerian girls cool down. No listen to those women wey them marriage don scatter. Na them full online. No take down. Go meet your husband for house. Go follow am up."
He dismissed the idea that relationships are inherently fraudulent, saying: "Love and marriage is not scam, but there are a few people that are hungry that are using relationship as a meal ticket, that's where it becomes a scam."
Ike encouraged people in relationships to communicate openly and work through challenges rather than seeking quick exits. "People endure in relationship. People try to find out the problem of their spouse in relationship. People try to solve it."
The actor's comments have sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many debating the role of financial motives in modern relationships.
