The Nigerian culture has enabled a lot of things we shouldn’t be proud of, yet lots of people glory in these sad deeds. A man toils most of his lifetime in the company of his wife and children, only for his brothers to embarrass his wife and children when he’s no more.
These continuous tales of a man’s brothers heartlessly dispossessing his wife of his properties might never go extinct if the men don’t put caution to practice.
Recently, a man-made trending tweet manifested the anger of women towards some of these traditional practices.
“I am an Igbo man and my omenala (custom and tradition) gives me full right over the properties of my siblings when they’re no more” he said.
He obviously said this while reacting to the news report alleging that the wife and siblings of Femi Osibona, owner of the collapsed Ikoyi building who died in the rubble, are fighting over his properties following his death.
A lady replied by calling him a thief and likening him to her uncle who sent away the wives of his late brothers. He told them to return to their fathers’ house since they no longer had businesses with the family.
I believe Nigerian husbands should learn to legally assign their properties to their wives and kids, before they die. This way, the woman would be saved from many embarrassments from his siblings.
There is a community in Abia State where it is a tradition to will everything to one’s siblings, instead of the wife or kids. I have seen a woman sent out of her matrimonial home, her pregnancy notwithstanding.
There are so many examples of these odd realities, and it’s only proper to change them.
Every family man should have his will written, and this can be reviewed as many times as possible. Some women pause their careers in order to look after the growth of their children, and in so doing, lose access to make money from their jobs.
Doing this will aid in the welfare of his children and wife when he is no more.
Written by: Edward Amah
