By Ayodele Oni
On her 72nd birthday on Sunday, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the former First Lady of Ondo State, has doubted efficacy of the purported curse placed on her by Owo community, following her criticism over demolition of the Memorial Park built in memory of the victims of 2022 terrorists attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church.
For allegedly denigrating the Owo Monarch by calling him a Baby Oba, traditionalists in the community invoked curses on the former First Lady.
Looking back on Sunday as she clocked 72, Mrs Akeredolu declared that despite the challenges, she remains strong, healthy, and whole.
She also recounted a shocking twist where she was cursed in a ritual orchestrated by Owo Traditionalists, allegedly under the auspices of the town’s Monarch.
At 72, she said she is not just living but thriving, and her commitment to advocacy and public service remains unwavering.
“I was cursed in a ritual orchestrated by Owo traditionalists, enabled by their Oba. A widow. A mother of their own. It was a moment of shame, not just for Owo, but for the State.
“But through it all, I rise. Having survived breast cancer for 28 years and counting, walking through grief and public scorn with head held high, I am still standing. Strong. Healthy. Whole.”
The former First Lady recounted that the demolition of a monument in Owo built in honour of the victims of the 2022 St. Francis Catholic Church massacre, amounted to betrayal of justice and memory.
The monument was destroyed under the administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who succeeded her late husband, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
In a strongly worded statement, Betty maintained that the destruction of the Memorial park was an unforgivable affront to history and humanity.
She noted that the monument was not just a symbol of grief and memory, but also a testament to her late husband’s commitment to justice.
The former First Lady, condemned the state-enabled desecration, revealing that she was subjected to vicious attacks from government officials and loyalists, defending the indefensible.
She used her birthday message to reflect on her continuing advocacy for women’s rights, cancer awareness, rural health, and sustainable development, stating that widowhood has not silenced her voice but sharpened her purpose.
Mrs Akeredolu celebrated not just another year of life, but the power of resilience, declaring that she is a symbol of strength and vitality.
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