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CLASSICS: Laide Bakare’s ex-husband Olumide Okunfulure explodes from the US – ‘My marriage to her is still intact’

Yoruba top actress, Laide Bakare Okunfulure’s husband, Mr. Olumide Okunfulure has reacted to the actress’ claims that their union has collapsed. In a chat with ENCOMIUM Weekly from his base in Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America, the Ile-Oluji, Ondo State born businessman opened up on the legality of his marriage with the famous Yoruba genre thespian, paternity of their child and his wife’s infidelity…
 
Olumide Okunfulure and Laide Bakare
Olumide Okunfulure and Laide Bakare

Your wife, Laide has made public a release where she claimed that her relationship with you has packed up. How would you react to this?

I was surprised as well to have read it online but all I can say is that our marriage is legal, not cut and join and legal action must be taken if anybody wants to quit the marriage. For God’s sake, two people cannot be forced to stay together, if one is not serious. To me, I still believe I’m married to her.
The  statement read that she dumped you for another businessman, Mr. Tunde Oriowo because she realised you were legally married to another wife who had given you two children, not actually single as you told her when the relationship started?
How could I have married two women legally in Nigeria? I should be in jail by now because there is a law that condemns such act. How come she has not gone to court instead of media for separation? Separation can only come through the court.
American government gave Laide Green Card because she is legally married to me, we had a court marriage in Nigeria also. When she was supposed to be a faithful wife, she would leave her matrimonial home to stay with married men in Lagos all in the name of being an actress or career lady. I couldn’t monitor her because I am not always in Nigeria. In fact, there was a time she left our baby, Similoluwa with me for eight months in America in the name of career lady, I had to become a nursing father.  I have been trying to manage my home the best way I could.
Are you insinuating that she cheated on you ?
Yes, of course! She did both in the past and now, all in the name being a career woman.  
If she was cheating on you both in the past and now, can you be sure of your child’s paternity?
I have made up my mind that my doctor should begin the process of DNA of our daughter to know who is the father, whether Mr Tunde Oriowo or myself. As we speak, she brought Similoluwa back to Nigeria illegally. And as we speak, the child is under her mother’s care.
What attracted her to you in the first instance when you have a lot of Nigerians living abroad?
First, there is nothing like home even though I have dual citizenship. I live in Washington DC and at the same time, I am a citizen of Nigeria from Ile Oluji in Ondo State. My parents are in Nigeria and they wanted me to marry a Yoruba lady not American or Jamaican. They believed that would make them have me around.
What is your opinion on your marriage?
Marriage is for better for worse. No matter the challenge, you face it and you will get result. If she came to me because of Green Card, she has got one. If it’s because of our child, she has also gotten that provided the paternity is confirmed. If she want us to separate, we can also go to court and settle that.
 
In ENCOMIUM Weekly’s bid to get Laide Bakare’s reaction to the allegations levelled against her by her former husband, Mr. Okunfulure, we engaged her in a Blackberry chat which dragged till Monday, May 13, 2013. But the pretty thespian and Chief Executive Officer, Simlime Records, rebuffed our effort. She insisted that the person who granted us the interview wasn’t her ex-hubby as she has done nothing to have warranted such from him.
 
Your ex-husband, Mr. Okunfulure has granted us an interview, claiming his marriage to you is still intact. What’s your reaction to this?
 My reaction will be to address the issue when I am back in Nigeria soon because the only authentic source is me.
Laide-Bakare
Laide-Bakare

Do you think it’s not necessary to counter all the claims now until you come back to Nigeria?

Let me tell you, some people don’t know the value of the stuff they have until they lose it. It’s simply good to be good. This is such a very long story which can never be discussed in this medium because it’s not convenient for me, stay blessed.
But he accused you of infidelity, he also called you a liar. He vowed to go for a DNA test to determine if he is truly the father of your daughter. So, try and react to clear the air once and for all?
Now, you have confused me. Where and how did you get talking to him?
It was an online interview, with his picture attached, but we considered it a disfavour if you’re not informed of the development before going to press. That’s why we thought you also need to react, at least to few of his claims and allegations.
I am not sure of the person you talked to.
But you should have responded to our question, we don’t have any reason to lie to you.
Responding to what I don’t understand?  You said he sent his picture and you ignored sending it to me. It seems there is more to it. Maybe someone else talked to you, it can never be him. I think you need to be more careful before writing false story about me.
This is an exclusive interview from Mr. Okunfulure but we think it will be nice if your reaction is also included before publishing it, that’s why we informed you. Don’t you consider it necessary?
The interview is not from him. Send the picture you have or you just like to blackmail me unnecessarily.
You’re just accusing us wrongly. What do we stand to gain in blackmailing you. We don’t need to send the picture before you believe us.    
It’s because I know he is not the person that is why I am talking to you. He will never say such things about me. Never, because I am never like that.
Don’t you know this is the right time to defend himself also?
That is what you assumed sir. God is watching. He is not the person that talked to you. And I will not like you to do what is wrong, after all.
We think if you see his picture in our magazine, you should be able to identify him. Then, what gave you the impression that he won’t want to say anything against you?
It’s because I have nothing against him. My daughter’s name and privacy are what I cherish most. I will stand against anything that will drag my name in the mud, I will fight these with everything I have. Please, I would want my daughter’s name not mentioned in any false story
 
        RASHEED ABUBAKAR
 
THIS STORY WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN ENCOMIUM WEEKLY ON TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013
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