Since the death of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the cold war between his widow, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu and the current governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa is indescribable. The two personalities, especially Betty, aren’t ready to sheathe their swords and always at each other’s jugular on issues of loyalty to Aketi
The family of the late former governor of Ondo State Rotimi Akeredolu and the state government have clashed over the proposed lecture to commemorate the first anniversary of Akeredolu’s death.
Akeredolu died on December 27, 2023.
The Akeredolu’s family plans to hold a memorial lecture in Owo, Akeredolu’s hometown on December 27; Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who used to be Akeredolu’s deputy, will also be holding another memorial lecture in Akure on the same day.
However, Akeredolu’s widow, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu on Wednesday accused Aiyedatiwa of being deceptive about the lecture.
She wrote on X, “Lucky can’t be serious! Which legacy? Lecture, my foot! This is not for Aketi because I and my family are not aware.”
“Lucky, you are preoccupied with rubbishing Aketi’s legacy; you can’t succeed, anyway,” she continued.
“Anybody close to Aketi and Arabinrin becomes your enemy. Your minions are scared to get close otherwise they lose their appointments.
“Now you want to pretend by organising one yeye lecture for Aketi’s memorial as an entry point to chop money on Aketi’s head.”
In another post, she warned that the lecture was not a “publicity stunt”.
Vanguard quoted a source close to Akeredolu’s family who said they have been planning the first memorial for the past five months and also sent invitation to the governor.
The lecture organised by the state government will be delivered by lawyer Femi Falana.
In the same vein, the Ondo State Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa has replied his predecessor’s widow Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu who claimed that the memorial lecture being organised by the state in her husband’s honour was a scam.
Reacting to the allegations through a statement issued on Thursday by his chief press secretary Ebenezer Adeniyan, Aiyedatiwa explained that the planned lecture is an exclusive event of the state government.
He further clarified that he extended invitation to Akeredolu’s family.
“Akeredolu was not just a family man. He was the governor of Ondo State. He died while serving the state. He was given a state burial and the state governor attended all the burial activities in Akure, Owo, and Ibadan.
“The state government is organising this lecture to mark the first anniversary of his passing, and an invitation has been extended to the family for representation. There is no dispute between the government and the family, and we are aware that there will be other events lined up to mark that anniversary,” the statement read.