Veteran Nollywood actor Bob-Manuel Udokwu has sparked debate after claiming that life is naturally easier for women than for men.
Speaking during an interview on Udaka FM, the actor argued that men and women do not experience life the same way, insisting that society places different expectations on both genders.
“I can tell you, life is easier for women than for men. Naturally, a man and a woman are not the same,” he said.
Explaining his point, Udokwu noted that age differences in relationships tend to favour men, saying, “A man of 40 will marry a girl of 25 or 21, and there is no issue. You can hardly reverse it, even though people are trying to do that now.”
During the interview, the actor also addressed assumptions about actors’ earnings while reflecting on the late John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu.
According to him, many people wrongly believed the comic actor should have been financially comfortable during his illness without considering the realities of personal responsibilities.
“It pained me with John Okafor, when he was sick and all the issues surrounding raising money,” he said, adding that critics failed to realise that “the man has been running bills.”
Udokwu also frowned on what he described as an unnecessary intrusion into celebrities’ private lives, insisting he does not pry into colleagues’ affairs.
“I don’t need to. For me to now begin probing, or trying to find out everything about your life. No! That’s gossip. Men don’t engage in gossip.”
He added, “I belong to those traditionally brought-up Igbo boys who believe that men don’t engage in gossip.”
