Ex-First Lady of Ondo State Decries Tribal Divide Among Nigerians
The wife of the late Governor of Ondo State, Mrs. Betty Akeredolu, has expressed her disappointment over the divisive nature of Nigeria’s public discourse. In a recent social media post, she lamented how tribal loyalties and biases had hijacked meaningful discussions about the country’s challenges and national issues.
The backlash came after she shared her thoughts on Nigeria’s presidential election and its comparison with the United States’ electoral process. Some online users criticized her comment, with some accusing her and her late husband of benefiting from Nigeria’s corrupt political system. Others attacked her, claiming that she was advocating for a specific ethnic group.
Mrs. Akeredolu emphasized that the real issue at hand is the country’s electoral malfeasance and the involvement of everyone in the political space, not just one ethnic group or individual. She questioned why the presidential election, which had profited some, was instead turned into a tribal warfare of words. “Nigeria is irredeemable! So sad!” she lamented.
To clear the air, the Imo State-born first lady revealed that she was already active in politics long before her husband became involved. She explained that she had contested the 2007 election for the Owerri Federal Constituency under the ANPP, but unfortunately, it was marred by electoral violence during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s “do or die” era. Mrs. Akeredolu further stated that she only involved herself in Ondo State politics to support her husband’s bid, leveraging her extensive political experience.
Her statement concluded that her late husband’s legacy in Ondo State, despite perceived biases, speaks for itself. The ex-first lady’s post is a timely reminder of the need to address Nigeria’s pressing issues without resorting to divisive rhetoric and biases.
