Veteran Nigerian actor Emeka Ike has rejected the growing belief that love and marriage are “modern-day scams,” insisting that both remain sacred when built on sincerity.
Speaking in a recent interview with BBC Pidgin, the actor-turned-politician said love and marriage can be fulfilling experiences when both partners are genuine in their intentions.
However, he noted that the beauty of relationships is often damaged when one partner enters with hidden motives or financial expectations.
“Love and marriage is not scam but there are a few people that are hungry and using relationship as a meal ticket. That’s where it becomes a scam,” he said.
“Love is beautiful, relationship is beautiful. To find someone that likes you, it is a sweet thing.”
The 59-year-old described genuine connection as a rare blessing, saying that finding someone who truly cares for you is something special.
He warned, however, that problems arise when one person approaches the relationship with secret intentions while the other remains unaware.
“When you’re liking him from an end he is not aware of, that’s the scam. When you’re liking her from the back end and she doesn’t know, that’s the scam,” he added.
“Plenty girls are going into relationship because of what they want to get, what they want to collect from the man.”
“Relationship is supposed to be sacred. Love is a foundation. Love is a pillar of every good relationship.”
Emeka Ike married his South African wife, Yolanda Pfeiffer, in 2017. The couple welcomed their first child, a baby girl, in 2019, and in 2024, they welcomed another daughter in Germany.
The actor was previously married to Suzanne Emma, a union that produced four children before ending in divorce.