Disagreements are bound to ensue among couples, because naturally, people are expected to react to issues differently. Marriage counsellors say the response and manner in which couples react to matters are determinants of the survival of their marriages. If their spouses slapped them in the public for whatever reason, SATURDAY PUNCH asked some Nigerians what their reactions would be.

I’ll feel bad

Rejoice Ada

Why would he slap me in the public? That’s just too mean. I will feel bad, but I will expect that he apologises promptly. If he does that, I’ll forgive him, though I may not really forget about the incident. All the same, I will still love him like I used to, if he repents. It’s only when he wants to take my kindness for granted that I will show him my other side.

She must give me a million reasons she did so

Charles Adebowale

Which kind of wife slaps her husband in the public? Even if she did so in the closet, does it make it normal? No! No matter what I could have done or said that angered her, I could never have deserved such treatment. That’s way too far. The best thing she has to do for her own sake is to promptly apologise publicly so that I would not be angry at her madly. If she can’t apologise, then she must be ready to give me a million reasons why she slapped me. It is an embarrassing act.

He has to tell me why and apologise

Fatimo Babalola

That kind of man is a beast. No matter what I could have said to him that made him to be angry, he didn’t have any right to slap me. If he wants peace in the home thereafter, he should tell me at once why he slapped me, then he must apologise and compensate me for not returning that slap. Truth is, returning the slap would only be a show of shame in the public and it will be an embarrassment to friends and family members that learn about it later. I’ll choose the path of honour by asking for reasons and letting him beg for my forgiveness.

I’ll stop eating her food

Joe Oladokun

I’ll clean my cheeks up, though naturally I would be angry. That’s expected of me. But being a gentleman comes with so many sacrifices. For instance, it’s not possible for me to pay her back by landing my own slaps on her cheeks. I’ll get over it, at least while we were still in the public. It’s when we get home that I may then bother to ask her what went wrong. Failure to produce an answer and apologise will be too mean of her and that, I will not take lightly. There are ways to deal with her, but I won’t disclose much. One of them is to refuse to eat her food and communicate with her. It’s a painful experience, but I can’t retaliate – as a gentleman.

I’ll warn him never to try it again

Gloria Gwen

Seriously, that is a rude action. No matter what a woman does or says against a man, he doesn’t need to respond in such manner. Even some illiterates don’t do that. You have to respect your wife and she will respect you too. As for me, I will warn him never to try it again, because that’s a form of physical abuse and infringement on my rights. If he is remorseful, I will find a place in my heart to forgive him and let the matter go.

I’ll leave the scene at once

Taofeek Otufowora

It can only happen when someone is too crude, because I don’t think any civilised woman will resort to slapping her husband – even privately – for any reason. It is surely a sign of crudeness. Meanwhile, I could never have opened my eyes wide to marry such a woman. Assuming it happens, I’ll leave the scene immediately, without her. But if it’s an event or programme that I needed to be around throughout, I would manage to stay without talking to her. she should be made to realise her cruelty and apologise.

I’ll just walk away

Mary Okegbile

There is no need to also display madness. If he chooses to descend so low like that, I don’t have to follow suit. Not returning the slap would pass a stronger message to him – if he is a mature person. In that kind of scenario, I just need to walk away from the scene and go and sit down quietly somewhere. But if I have the means, I can just go home and relax, while awaiting his return. If he knows what is good and he’s mature, he will come home remorseful and on his knees begging me.

She’ll pay for it

Bebe James

She has to pay for that, right there or when we return home. I don’t think you have to simply rub your cheeks and let it go. That’s simply an aggressive manner. It is not a good thing. It makes one look like an animal. It shows total disrespect. I will try not to return my own slap, but she has to beg me in the presence of the same people she had slapped me. If she fails to do that, she might be calling for separation. Next time, she will learn that you don’t slap your ‘head’ for any reason.

One needs to treat him like a monster, too

Ebere Favour

I don’t tolerate nonsense. Men should not be made to think they have any special rights over women. They are to take care of their wives, protect them, provide for them and even shield them away from monsters. But when a man becomes a monster, one needs to treat him like one. I would also give him a dirty slap if that happens. I guess he will learn a lesson from there that he didn’t marry a fool. It’s not easy, though, but he shouldn’t have slapped me.

That can only happen if she’s the breadwinner

Uzor Isaac

I guess the only factor that could give a woman the gut to slap her husband is if she is the breadwinner of the family, which doesn’t make it right by the way. However, whether she is or not, I will respond appropriately – not necessarily by slapping her back, because I’m not a monster, but I could refuse her so many things, as a man. For instance, I could punish her by not sleeping with her again. When she comes back to her senses and does the needful, I will resume again. But really, it’s painful.

Onemansquad:
Turn the other side for her then after that i will walk home *u knw d rest*

marshalcarter:

Why must you steal wats in ma mind dis early momo

Onemansquad:
Turn the other side for her then after that i will walk home *u knw d rest*

Lilyomi:

Slaps him on both left n ryt cheek. Oya turn ur back for me. Picks koboko....
I wl collapse after this. . He wl forgive

TemmyWon:
SMH, he would have done it before in private and would have seen my reaction, so he wouldn't dare in public. If its first time in public, that's " from my village" I'd just walk away.

Xslaze3xd:
She will buy this stuffs to appease the gods of the land;
2 He-goat
7 Tubers of yam
3 gallon of palm wine
4 bunch of unripe plantain
5 aligetor pepper
2 keg of palm oil
with #30, 000 for the gods.