Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, widow of former Ondo State governor Rotimi Akeredolu, has replied her critics after coming under attack for calling Nigeria “a zoo country that is beyond redemption”.
Mrs Akeredolu made the controversial remark on X while comparing Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election and the 2024 United States presidential poll. She was described by several X users as a bigot.
In response, she wrote, “Why all the noise about Aketi’s widow? Wetin dey hapun? I made an honest but harmless observation on Nigerian and US presidential elections, twitter is now on 🔥 🔥 🔥. Kilode? Obviously, truth hurts and hurts with tribal colouration. Tufiakwa! Look at the attacks.”
She alleged that her critics were against her because she was Igbo.
“Did you notice a pattern? The Igbophobia is so thick and vicious. And by association as my darling husband, Aketi was not spared. Infact, to his people, nde ofenmanu, Aketi was an Igboman and very quickly, they would sweep under the carpet his bold and courageous role…,” she wrote.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu added that her late husband’s legacy is written in gold.
On Thursday, she reiterated: “If 2023 election presidential benefitted you as an individual or group, was that the best Nigeria could offer?. Alas, they turned it into a tribal war of words. Nigeria is irredeemable! So sad!”
To drive home her point, she recalled a statement made by Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka in 2021 that it is “madness” for anyone to think Nigeria would “work”.