“We Were Never Married”: Tope Alabi Clears Air on Relationship with Ex
Kehinde Adeleye
Renowned Nigerian gospel singer, Tope Alabi, has opened up about her past relationship with Lekan Olaoye, father of her first child, addressing the lingering controversy surrounding claims that they were once married.
In a recent video shared on her official Facebook page, Alabi clarified that contrary to public speculation, she was never formally married to Olaoye, explaining that no traditional or family rites were ever performed.
“I started living with him, feeling there was no point going back to where my family was pressuring me to marry at all costs. Little did I know I had moved from the frying pan to the fire,” the gospel artiste recounted.
She said her late father had repeatedly expressed concern that Olaoye never introduced his family or fulfilled any marital obligations. “It took repeated insistence before my so-called partner finally came one night, bringing along work friends. My family asked when his family would come for the introduction, and all he said was, ‘Okay.’ If that ‘okay’ was ever going to come to pass, perhaps it would have been tomorrow. But tomorrow never came,” Alabi said.
The “Angeli Mi” crooner added that her father eventually gave his blessing when she married her current husband, Soji Alabi, in November 2000 — a union that has since produced two children.
Alabi also advised young women to be discerning in relationships, warning that men often take advantage of those who appear “gullible or vulnerable.”
The singer had come under social media criticism months ago for allegedly excluding Olaoye from their daughter Ayomikun’s wedding and for changing the daughter’s surname to that of her husband, Soji Alabi.
