A Nigerian woman, Seun Obajolu, has shared a powerful lesson in empathy after publicly tendering an apology to her former husband. The catalyst for her remorse? The relentless burden of paying exorbitant electricity bills.
A Humbling Realisation
In a candid Facebook post on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, Obajolu, who is also a marriage and relationship coach, narrated the moment of clarity that led to her apology. She revealed that during her marriage, her then-husband would frequently express frustration over the high cost of their electricity bills. At the time, she admitted to downplaying his concerns, unable to comprehend why he made such a fuss.
"I just looked at you like, what’s all these stress? Like just pay it and stop stressing me," she recounted telling him in the past. However, her perspective shifted dramatically after their divorce, when the responsibility for paying the utility bills fell solely on her shoulders.
Walking in His Shoes
Obajolu explained that she now finds herself replicating the exact same behaviour she once criticised. She catches herself admonishing her daughters about energy conservation, educating them on the need to switch off lights and appliances to reduce costs.
"Now that I have to pay those extremely high energy bills every month... It dawned on me then…what you might have been going through at the time," she wrote. The experience taught her that true understanding often only comes from personal experience. "Omo, its not easy to be working and be dashing these rich folks my hard earned money abeg," she lamented, capturing the widespread Nigerian frustration with power costs.
Public Reaction and Shared Frustrations
Her public apology and confession about the crippling electricity bills resonated deeply with many Nigerians online. The comment section of her post turned into a forum where others shared their own struggles.
One respondent, Kemi Osigbesan, echoed the sentiment with her own shocking bill: "My current bill is $582/month... I am zero paychecks away from being a ho’ standing on the street corner. I don tire!!!" Another user, Ada Ogbonna, described nearly having a heart attack after opening her bill post-vacation, now enforcing strict energy-saving measures at home.
Many praised Obajolu's maturity. User Wale Salami commented, "I wish all the members of your genders who still have men picking this tab would read this and go and 'thank a man'. But thank you for giving him his flower oh jare." Others, like Olubunmi Ajai Kintsugi, related the story to their own past, realising they owed similar apologies to their parents for not understanding the financial pressures of running a household.
The viral post serves as a poignant reminder about empathy within relationships and the universal Nigerian struggle with high electricity tariffs. Obajolu concluded her lesson with a relatable plea: "Now let me go open this month’s bill .. phewww pray for me."
