In a compelling exclusive interview with
TheNetng, Who Wants To Be A
Millionaire’ host Frank Edoho's wife, Katherine Obiang, who has three
kids for the TV host talked about her 7-year old marriage to Frank. How
it should never have been, how they should have rather stayed friends.
They are great.
- And how are they taking the whole divorce issue?
We are not really divorced. It’s still a work-in-progress kind of thing
but we are taking it well. When its time for him to see the children, he
does and when its time to return them, he does. On my part, I
have carried the children along and make them
understand they are not stained because of it. I wouldn’t want them to
develop a complex because of it. We didn’t design for these things to
happen but they do. It's like people who have lost their parents, they
didn’t plan for it but they have to move on. I watch them and I think
they are doing pretty okay especially because we talk about it every
time there is a reason to.
- You mentioned that you aren’t really divorced. Does that suggest possibility of reconciliation?
No, it doesn’t. We just started the process but there isn’t any hope for
reconciliation. We know we would always be in each other’s lives
because of the children, so we have to be civil. When the children are
getting married for example, we have to hide our differences and make it
work.
- What if he (Frank) came back, would you consider it?
No. Three years have gone by. It will be a whole entire process of
knowing somebody all over again and I don’t have the energy to do that.
We’ve let it burn and I don’t think he will do that.
- Do you sometimes miss him?
He had such a great sense of humor. I don’t know if he still does. His
sense of music too, being a radio presenter, and we used to exchange
thoughts on things regarding that, but otherwise, I don’t miss him in
that nostalgic way of…It’s a part of my life I have come to terms with. I
am a solution oriented person. He was part of my life for more than 10
years (dated for four years and got married for 7 years).
- Looking back at everything, do you wish you never got separated?
No, I think Frank and I should not have gotten married in the first
place. We should just have been friends because he was an awesome
friend. While I was dating someone else and he had to go back to his
country, he (Frank) was there all through and I had known him all the
while he was in the University of Calabar and we started our career
together. I think we shouldn’t have pushed it to marriage and just
stayed as friends.
No. I have three lovely kids to show for it and of course, every thing
happens for a reason and a purpose. They can only make us better or
stronger people and it has done so for me. I have grown from what went
wrong.
- What is usually the cause of the fight?
I think it's impatience, anger and not knowing how to deal with issue in
the now, so you react before you think. It goes like, ‘huh, how dare
you say this to me…is that what you will say?’ I can’t remember any one
in particular, it has been long now, I have moved on and it’s not a
thing that can happen to me again but I always say no matter what, a man
should not raise his hands on a woman. A woman should also not goad a
man too much. It takes nothing from the man who walks away because once
he hits a woman, he starts to think it is justifiable. Unfortunately, we
are in a society where we have friends that will give you thumbs up for
doing that. A man should be calmer and not react on the now.
- Are you making efforts to ensure that your son isn’t wrongly influenced by this?
I have a son and I talk to him all the time. I let him know he must be
there to protect his sister. They should look at him and feel safe with
him and he knows that. The girls also push him and I caution them, so
it’s a balance.
- Were you hit by the rumors of his recent marriage?
I didn’t want to believe he was because we are still married (legally).
We are not divorced, so I didn’t see how that was possible and didn’t
loose sleep over it. I’m not asking him not to go on with his life but
things should be done properly. We are separated for three years and now
in the divorce process. If he found happiness and love, then I’m happy
for him.
- Will you be trying your hands on marriage again?
You just never know.
- If you would, what kind of man would he be?
You come to a point in your life where you can’t afford to do things out
of adrenaline but with great thought. It would be a more mature person,
someone who is calm and has a fine sense of how life should be. Someone
who is mature, wise and seen life and the ways of the world and knows
what he is doing at every time.
- When you think about all that has happened, does it bring tears to your eyes?
No, I feel a sense of disappointment instead especially now when the
children come home with questions that I need a man to answer, if he
(their father) were around. For example, someone to be there for my son
at a time when he is writing his common entrance examination. It’s a
feeling of disappointment, but you know, we have to rise above them and
you go on.
- What was your reaction the very first time it happened?
I’m like these things happen in marriages but we think of reconciliation
and getting families involved. It is your first trial in marriage and
nobody gives a guideline about how things are going to be.
- Apart from being part of the Project Alert, what other steps
have you taken to help women who are battling with domestic violence?
I talk to them but in the end, I let them know, the decision is theirs. A
friend of mine was involved in this and after we talk, she will go back
to him. No matter what platform there is, it rests on the individual.
It is what I have arrived at. I still share my story when I have the
chance to.
