Olori Sekinat Elegushi, the first wife of the Elegushi of Ikate land Oba Saheed Elegushi, has recounted how she managed her husband’s decision to pick a second wife.
Oba Elegushi married Sekinat in 2003, and they have three daughters.
In May 2019, the 46-year-old monarch married a Kano indigene, Hadiza Yakasai, in Kano.
Hadiza is the daughter of Kano political figure Tanko Yakasai. She is also a business development manager in an organisation which plays in the oil and gas industry.
She welcomed their son in the UK in August 2020.
In an interview with Kemi Ashefon’s Blog, Olori Sekinat said the news of a second wife came at a time her mother died. She said she still had to deal with the fact that the man she loved was marrying another woman.
“I didn’t marry a king, I married a young man, who I love, and we were growing together managing and planning. It was hard then, but I realised that some of these things come with the demands and pressure of the throne.
“Why then continue to worry about it? The moment he became a king, I knew issues like this would come up, but I have to support and stand by him,” she said.
Olori Sekinat admitted that when her husband was nominated for the throne, she feared he would take a second wife.
“Part of my fear was that he would take another wife. Then, I was pregnant with our third child. When he was crowned, I returned from abroad early with the baby to be with him for the coronation and other rites.
“Initially, it was a bit challenging as there were many demands, which I wasn’t used to, but since I was familiar with some of the palace procedures and the people there, we were able to settle down,” she added.
Olori Sekinat noted that she met the king, while a student, at her late mum’s shop on Lagos Island, adding that he did not tell her he was from a royal home.
