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By Oscar Okhifo, Abuja
Nollywood star Regina Daniels has issued a strong warning to Nigerians continually dragging her mother, Rita Daniels, over her marriage to billionaire politician, Ned Nwoko, insisting that her mother never pushed her into the union.
Regina, who has faced years of public backlash and social media trolling since she tied the knot with Nwoko in 2019, said contrary to the widely held belief that her mother influenced the marriage because of wealth, Rita Daniels actually stood against the idea at first.
In a video posted on her verified Instagram platform, the 24 years old thespian said her mother “warned me seriously not to marry Ned Nwoko”, stressing that she was the one who insisted on the union.
She said her mother only supported her after she made it clear she was going ahead with the relationship, explaining that Rita Daniels has always protected her happiness rather than public opinion.
“My mum has always looked out for my best interest. She wanted me to marry someone younger, someone closer to my age. But she never forced me into anything. I was already in love and I stood my ground,” she noted.
The actress lamented that critics still drag her mother anytime conversations about her marriage surface online, describing the attacks as unfair and malicious.
She urged people to direct their criticisms at her instead of her mother.
Many times, Regina’s mother had faced public backlash over her daughter’s choice of the senator as husband.
Members of the public accused her of “selling off” her daughter for fame and fortune.
Regina’s father had also publicly distanced himself from the marriage, insisting he advised against it but was ignored.
Despite Rita Daniels’ repeated denials of influencing the union, the trolls never eased.
Now that Regina has come out to take full responsibility and pleaded with Nigerians to leave her mother out of her personal decisions, observers believe her plea might finally help to calm the backlash.
“If you have anything to say, say it to me, not to her. I have my own mind. I am not a child who was pushed into marriage. Leave my mum out of it,” Regina said.
She further stated that despite the backlash, she remains happy with her marital choice, blessed with two sons and enjoying what she described as a stable, supportive home.
“I have no regrets. I repeat, no regrets at all. I am happy. I have a beautiful family and a husband who loves and supports me. That is what matters,” she added.
Her comments come amid fresh online criticism linking her career progress and political visibility to Nwoko’s influence, a claim both she and her husband have dismissed previously.