‘I’m sorry,’ Farida Sobowale apologises over suicide attempt

Farida Abdulkabir, a well-known socialite and entrepreneur from Lagos State, also recognized by the name Farida Sobowale, has expressed her remorse and issued an apology to her children for her recent suicide attempt by trying to jump off the Third Mainland Bridge into the Lagos Lagoon.

She expressed, “I deeply regret the distress I caused my children through my actions. I couldn’t have forgiven myself if I had left them behind after attempting suicide.”

Reportedly, she parked her Lexus SUV near the end of the Third Mainland Bridge and made an effort to leap into the lagoon. However, bystanders from Lagos intervened, leaving their vehicles to prevent her from jumping.

In a video that has gone viral, she is seen wearing black attire and sobbing intensely as those around her prevent her from jumping.

In an audio message that has also circulated widely, Farida Sobowale offered an explanation for her actions, attributing them to love. She disclosed that her marriage, which had cost her N100 million, quickly ended after two months. Her spouse, Demola Okulaja, is also a prominent figure in Lagos’s social circles.

Farida Sobowale stated, “Despite the warnings from friends and family against entering the marriage, I was stubborn and chose to go ahead. Love was the driving force behind my decisions. He assured me that he would be by my side and that we would have children together.”

She further said, “I deeply regret the impact my actions had on my children. Abandoning them after such an act would have been unforgivable. I have forgiven my ex-husband, and I hope God blesses him with a new partner.”

The dispute between Farida Sobowale and her estranged husband has been unfolding on social media, with both revealing personal family secrets and resorting to name-calling.