Wife of the late governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, Mrs Betty Akeredolu and the late governor’s niece, Funke Akeredolu-Aruna, on Monday, traded words, for supporting the governorship bid of Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The former first lady lambasted her late husband’s younger sister, who was the former deputy chief of protocol in the state, for openly endorsing and supporting Aiyedatiwa.
In a social media post on Monday, Mrs Akeredolu described Akeredolu-Aruna as “shameless and a serpent” for supporting Aiyedatiwa, who is aiming to get the ticket of the ruling party ahead of the November 16 election.
Mrs Akeredolu wrote on her Instagram page: “Behold the face of Aketi’s niece, Funke Akeredolu-Aruna, the former deputy chief protocol to Aketi, shamelessly parades as ‘I am Lucky’ Bloody serpent! Time will tell if she is truly lucky!” the widow said.
The outburst came after Akeredolu-Aruna pictures surfaced on social media campaigning for Aiyedatiwa, adorning an outfit and face-cap in support of Aiyedatiwa.
However, the social media post of Mrs Akeredolu, generated outrage on social media with critics calling on the widow to respect her husband and continue mourning rather than engaging in pettiness.
Meanwhile, Akeredolu-Aruna said the attack on her personality was needless but purely political, alleging that it was designed to smear her image because she was close to the incumbent governor, Aiyedatiwa.
According to her, there was no need for the outburst, and she is old enough to decide and find a direction for her life and where to pitch her tent.
She said: “I just happened to be a victim of circumstances. I was the deputy Chief of Protocol in the last administration to my uncle. The present governor was like a family member to Akeredolu’s family. Aketi took him like a brother and they were very close.
So, I also called this present governor my uncle because of his closeness to Akeredolu until the cabal moved against Aiyedatiwa; I didn’t support the cabal and stood with Aiyedatiwa because I knew all they planted against him.
“I was in the picture and defended him; it got to a time they started saying I was dating him. Now that he’s the governor of the state and because I believe in him, I mobilised for his election.
“I am the convener of Orimisan Lucky women in Ondo state, a support group for his re-election. This particular group is number one in the state because we are all over the 18 LGAs.
“We held a programme on Sunday and my pictures were all over social media; it’s just blackmail. It is just politics and I want to believe that it is the opposition that took that picture and started sending it around with blackmail.
“I think that’s where the late governor’s wife got the picture and felt disappointed that I’m not in their camp.”
Speaking about the relationship between Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa, she said it was cordial until the cabal came between the two leaders.
She said: “Their relationship was cordial before the death of my late uncle, I never witnessed any friction between them. So, I can’t join hands and start fighting Aiyedatiwa; he’s my friend and, as a Christian, I cannot associate with lies.
“Everybody knows I’m in Lucky’s camp. I have always been there when the whole shenanigans started, especially when politics was hot in the state. It’s not new to the family members that I’m with Lucky.”
She however, maintained: “I won’t back out of Lucky’s camp. I cannot see where the light is and follow darkness. All these things flying around about Aiyedatiwa is nothing but pure lies, because as a Christian I cannot pitch my tent with lies. I have my integrity to protect.
“What happened between the former governor and Aiyedatiwa is just pure politics. Even on the issue of impeachment, there was no where Aketi talked about impeachment against Lucky. There was no time; so all these things going on are just pure politics.
“Mummy that is fighting me and attacking me might have her own reason because she is not supporting this present governor.
“But all I know is that Aiyedatiwa gave my uncle a befitting burial which I think he did quite well.”
The cold war between the governor and his late principal, Akeredolu became public knowledge after Akeredolu was ill and traveled abroad for treatment in Germany before he eventually gave up on December 26 and was aged 67.
An impeachment against Ayedatiwa was thwarted through the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Ayedatiwa became the Acting Governor until he was sworn in as the governor of the state on December 27, 2023.
Aiyedatiwa had recently declared his intention to run for the sea in the November 16 governorship election, saying he is prepared to serve for more that a year in the current office.
