Veteran comedian Atunyota Akpobome, popularly known as Alibaba, has shared his views on polygamy, describing it as a system that promotes family stability and reduces infidelity among men.
Speaking in an interview with media personality Nedu, Alibaba explained that polygamy can bring balance to relationships by encouraging cooperation among wives and discouraging marital conflicts.
“Some people feel if it’s only one wife, you may not be able to control the wife. But if the wife knows that you have more than one, she will calm down because she knows that if she misbehaves, another person is available,” he said.
Citing examples from Ibadan, the comedian noted that some women in the past encouraged their husbands to marry additional wives to prevent extramarital affairs and maintain peace at home.
“I actually know of a woman in Ibadan who encouraged her husband to be a polygamist. Most of them back then would even find a young girl and gift her to the husband because they didn’t want him to have concubines,” Alibaba added.
He also pointed out that in traditional culture, widows with young children were sometimes married to their late husband’s brother to ensure the family’s welfare — a practice he described as a form of culturally accepted polygamy.
While acknowledging that many people view polygamy negatively, Alibaba argued that it has long been part of social systems built on responsibility and family preservation. He said critics often ignore the reality that many men already have children outside of marriage.
