The widow of the former governor of Ondo State, Betty Akeredolu, has rejected the memorial lecture that the Ondo State Government had planned in honour of the late Rotimi Akeredolu.
The lecture scheduled for Akure on Friday, is one of several events planned to mark the first anniversary of ex-Governor Akeredolu’s passing on December 27, 2023.
The state government announced that renowned lawyer, Femi Falani would deliver the lecture, with Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa serving as chairman of the Akeredolu Leadership Lecture Series.
However, Betty took to her X account on Wednesday, to disassociate herself and her family from the event.
She accused the state government of failing to involve the Akeredolu family in the planning process and of not inviting them to the event.
In her post titled: “Re: Purported Aketi lecture by Ondo Lucky can’t be serious!” Betty expressed her discontent, saying, “which legacy? Lecture, my foot! “This is not for Aketi because my family and I are not aware. Damn it! As the saying goes: You and your co-travellers cannot shave Aketi’s head in his absence.
“You cannot weep more than the bereaved. This is an insidious propaganda carried too far! Lucky, you are preoccupied with rubbishing Aketi’s legacy; you can’t succeed, anyway.”
She went on to condemn the memorial event, claiming that it was an attempt to profit off Akeredolu’s memory.
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“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. You are on your own o! If this is not #Yahoo #419 lecture, tell me what it is!”
In response, Ebenezer Adeniyan, Governor Aiyedatiwa’s chief press secretary, stressed that there was no controversy between the state government and the Akeredolu family over the memorial lecture.
Adeniyan stated that the former governor’s family had been invited to the function, and that Akeredolu, who died while serving as governor, was honoured with a state funeral attended by the governor.
“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,” Adeniyan said.
