…For descending low on social media
The Ondo State First Lady, Mrs Betty Akeredolu, got the biggest bashing of her life Friday on Facebook when angry online followers on that social handle descended on her for condescending so low as to trading insults and hurling foul language at perceived critics of her husband.
Commentators on Facebook were so piqued at the Governor’s wife’s responses to seemingly fair criticisms, calling her out and trading tackles with her for bringing the Office of the First Lady to street level where she reportedly used foul, uncouth words on ordinary people.
It is all part of the build up to the forthcoming governorship election slated for October 10, 2020.
Indeed, many angry commentators pointedly said: “if Akeredolu loses the governorship election, blame Betty, his wife, for dabbling into the affairs of governance”.
A Facebook post by one Tai Arowojolu-Alagwe, a Qatar-based Quantity Surveyor and Cost Engineer, had stirred the hornet’s nest. It was titled: “Where were you for the last 3 years when his wife and children were ruining Ondo State?”
Although, the Facebook post made no reference to any name, regarding the target of the post, yet it was able to draw out the First Lady whose, Facebook account is Betty Ayanwu-Akeredolu.
A usually virulent defender of her husband’s administration and policies, Betty is widely known to handle all her social media accounts by herself. And, she does so unapologetically.
And, when the barrage of attacks on what many of the Facebook lovers considered as the perceived “sins” of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Betty was fully ready, as she came out hard at the critics, albeit, unrestrained in the language deployed.
Mrs Akeredolu, palpably angry, freely used such street words as “you are a bloody Danfo Driver”, “devilish”, ” thrash”, “Yeyenatu,” “tax collector”, ” bad mouthing”, “your rotten mouth”, tell me who are you and who is your father and mother” as tirades against those who responded to comments on the thread.
Surprised at her altercations on Facebook over the thread, not a few Nigerians were aghast that such was a descent to the abyss for such personality of a wife of a Governor who should have applied high level of decorum in such a public sphere.
For instance, Betty had responded very early as if already waiting for the post authored by Tai Arowojolu-Alagwe. Her reaction was seen as very virulent.
“Even though i have been advised to ignore puerile and clannish posts, there are some i need to shoot down with my “missiles” otherwise, their jaundiced posturings will turn an apple to banana.
“Like last week, one character, from nowhere, on Breeze Fm, announced to the whole world that Arabinrin has taken over sunshine fisheries with her Igbo ex-military brother as Director. What a crap! I didnt waste time o. I called out the Station’s GM. Kiakia,.
.
“The Commissioner for Agric was on air to debunk the lies. I had shut up the bloody liar. This time, silence is no longer golden. Now @ Tai Arowojolu-Alagwe, I can’t help myself but to respond, to your figment of malicious imagination.
“Did you in all honesty post this? What do you really know about how Ondo State is governed. I read your profile and for your calibre to act on rumours is quite disappointing to say the least. In terms of rumour mongering, you are in no way better than the danfo driver plying on the streets of Akure! I also wonder what a market woman in Ese-odo or Isua would say!
“Don’t rubbish your class on the alter of clannish politics! Since Arabinrin haters in Ondo state are relentless in their vicious attacks on me and my family, i will be Eneke the bird!😎”
For his part, Tai Arowojolu-Alagwe, fired back: “Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, I am not disappointed if you compare a professional colleague of your husband with a taxi driver. That is how low you can go. I relied on the video of Mimiko and Olusola Oke if you say that is rumor mongering, then fight with them.
“I heard from you in 2012 and 2015 and relied on your information to campaign against Mimiko, it was not rumor and neither was I clannish. I see you as nothing but just a distraction in this holy assignment. I cannot remember Kemi Mimiko or Funke Agagu engaging “Akure taxi drivers” whether privately or openly.
“I have you here openly and in my inbox right from when your husband started his electoral exploration. For your information, I am a world class professional and one of the few polymath in Nigeria. I am not reliant on my spouse’s success and neither am I reliant on my parents. I am a person made by God to speak to powers that be regardless of their tribes or creeds.”
Mrs Akeredolu also came down hard on another commentator, Segun Odidi, a Publisher and former governorship candidate of a political party in the state.
“Segun Odidi Here you go again, you cant hide your tribal irredentism. In less than 5 years, you definitely say , “had i known”. My BEMORE girls will be making deafening waves worldwide! Are you aware that I have 1000 of them in about 1000 homes in Ondo state. It is a revolution!💪….
“Segun Odidi You better vamoose, you this TAX COLLECTOR. 4+4=8. Aketi is a goooooal!!!”
The Governor’s wife was also unsparing of another commentator, Olokungbemi Timothy.
Here was Betty’s response to him:
“Timothy Okikiolagbemi. This your bad mouthing has gone out of hand o. Akeredolu’s family name is made by dint of hard work,. For your info, Me, Aketi and our children schooled in the best universities in Nigeria, USA and Canada and equipped with the intellectual capacity and sound mind fit to face the 21st century world.
“Don’t let me sound immodest. In short, your rotten mouth cant unmake my family. We belong to WHO IS WHO IN NIGERIA! Apologies to FFK🤣🤣🤣
“Tell me, who are you? Who is your father and mother? 🤣🤣🤣. Think about your background and come back with your reply. Yeyenatu!😡”.
Thereafter came torrents of responses from bemused and angry Nigerians who could not hide their disappointment and disgust with Mrs Akeredolu.
Hear a commentator, Wale Leyimu: “Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu I took time to read through your comments here. Madam, to say I’m shocked is to underestimate my feelings. And quite honestly, I’m not going to lie to you, ma, I’m not happy with you, and I’m sure not not a few people feel same way!
“Your comments here are way, way beneath your office. Not even a young little girl will act in this manner. For a fact, your office is a public one that attracts interest of diverse dimensions. It’s only trite that you should go above petty and puerile cross engagement. I wonder what any of the little girls so said of being propped by BEMORE( her pet project) will gain in the positive trend reading your caustic exchange here taking into cognisance this viz-a-viz her take of your (supposedly) exalted office?!
“This is really unheard of. It’s unspeakable and unbecoming. I think we deserve unreserved apologies from you, Madam First Lady.
Many thanks as you tow the line expected of your office forthwith. Daalu!
Shalom.”
Another commentator, Wole Akin, a Canada based businessman, said: “No! I doubt if this is the real first lady. I think people have taken things too personal, politics should be about issues and policies not about personality.
“The first lady, if it is indeed her, should have exercised some restraint by saying her side of the story or why she thinks Tai Arowojolu-Alagwe is wrong and not to resort to things like taxi drivers cos that is a denigration of an essential profession of our society.
“This back and forth won’t move the state forward, let’s deal with issues that affect our people. Thanks.”
Several other responses venting their angst at Mrs Akeredolu are too numerous to publish. However, let’s hear Timothy Olokungbemi:”Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu As you read my reply, count on your fingers now how many First Lady who is who behave like you. You and your generation are at brink of oblivion but pride won’t let you see it.
You acquired world class education to oppress the poor and needy, what recognition do you seek for that? How exactly has your world class education reflected in your conduct and governance?
“I know people in Ondo state whose children are currently sick and can’t afford a hospital because their salaries have not been paid.
I know jobless children who still have to send money to their aged parents in Ondo because their pensions have not been paid, but you are very busy on Facebook replying posts. Do what you like but your lousy household is gone!!!”
