By Charles Igbo

“Let Ogun ‘kpai’ you there for mentioning my husband’s name”

Dr Betty Anyanwu- Akeredolu, widow of the late Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has cursed out a Social media influencer, Dipo Awojide, aka Ogbeni Dipo, for daring to mention her late husband’s name. “Let Ogun kpai (kill) you”, the angry former First Lady of Ondo State lashed out at him.

Dr Anyanwu-Akeredolu spoke in  reaction to Awojide’s advice to  South-West Governors to be serious and fearless about insecurity in the Zone just as the late Governor Akeredolu was.

In a post on X.

Ogbeni Dipo had advised the Governors over the increasing insecurity:

“Dear Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Seyi Makinde, Dapo Abiodun, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Biodun Oyebanji and Ademola Adeleke, difficult times call for difficult measures. We are at war. And we are being encircled by terrorists.

“Sirs, Yorubaland needs you to stand up and be as firm and fierce like late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu was on insecurity.

“We need you to call a meeting urgently and release a statement like you did on 10th June 2024 when you openly advocated for certain policies which the majority of us Yorubas supported.”

Ordinarily, that should have made Akeredolu’s wife happy; that should have made her proud. But it had the opposite effect. According to her, Ogbeni Dipo was in the forefront of those who turned against,  pounced on her family, especially, herself, Akeredolu’s wife, as soon as  he passed on.

So, in reaction, she lashed out:  “Ogun will kpai you @OgbeniDipo if you mention Governor Akeredolu again. You bloody ronubandit! Let Aketi be. Face your wahala and your bigotry. What’s the difference between you and Fulani bandits and Boko haram? E don cast!”

Perhaps taken aback

Ogbeni Dipo responded:  “You are a mother and the wife of one of our leaders, as such, I find it difficult talking back at you. Enjoy the rest of the evening, ma.”

That response infuriated Akeredolu’s widow more:

“Who? @OgbeniDipo. When did you get tired of your vilification of somebody you knew nothing of? So, you didn’t realise that you were bullying a wife of your so-called leader based on hearsay. As the chickens have come home to roost, you remembered Aketi as your leader? For where? FAKE adoration. You and co-travellers unleashed on me your jobless data boys and filthy ronubandits during the most trying period of my life. Heartless bigot. It’s my turn now. Emilokan! Oloshi! Oloriburuku! Deal with your trauma!!!”

And Ogbeni Dipo, instead of leaving it at that, responded:

“Again, I cannot curse or abuse you out of respect for late Governor Akeredolu. We were not raised to exchange words with the spouses of our elders and leaders, except it becomes unavoidable, which will be unfortunate. Please stop with the curses and name (calling) ma.”

And Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu fired back: “You make me laugh. How can you and your fellow ronubandits pretend not to be part of the storm of hostility that descended on me from Ondo State, and indeed, from across the Yoruba nation after my husband’s passing. You h@ted me so much that you wished me kpaid but I’m still standing chimchim! The venom was unprovoked and vicious. Owo people, Aketi’s very own kinsmen, went as far as staging a ritualistic invocation in the marketplace, publicly calling for the de@th of the mother of their grandchildren. That grotesque spectacle went viral across the world. What a shame!. I’m sending the kpai kpai to any of you that wishes me to kpai. It’s return to sender.

“Tell me, what was my offence? What sin did I commit against a people my husband loved, served, and honoured all his life? Anytime, you engage in your bigotry against Ndigbo, you must inject me into your war of h@tred. A good example was during your Bokku wahala @OgbeniDipo. The hypocrisy and cruelty were staggering. Igbophobia is real!

“So, before anyone rushes to spit rubbish, I suggest they acquaint themselves with the facts. Passing judgment without context is not only lazy, it is preposterous and morally indefensible.”

Again, Ogbeni Dipo:  “Madam you have repeatedly used ethnic slurs against your husband’s people via your suspended handle. Here you are trashing your husband’s kingsmen, Owo and Ondo people. You have called me Ronu Bandit repeatedly.

“You were quick to mention Fulani bandits and Boko Haram, but not IPOB. Why?

“Madam Betty, I respect you because you are a mother, and a wife of one of our leaders. Even in death, we don’t disrespect our respectable elders in Yorubaland. Family issues are not to be discussed on social media for the entertainment of strangers. There should be elders in your family who can engage with the Aketi family if you have any concerns. Please look after yourself and your mental health. And stop embarrassing yourself and the entire family and Ondo State. Shared with love and respect.”

And, Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu:  “Oh! Quite interesting. You remember my old handle. You and co-travellers were responsible for the suspended handle. Mob action at work!”

The former First Lady, is fiercely protective of her late husband’s name and legacies. She was taken aback when, on her husband’s death, some friends turned to enemies, and even insinuated that she killed her husband. That allegation hurt her deeply.

For the records, the former Governor died of prostrate cancer, an illness his wife, who suffered from breast cancer, survived since over three decades, and is in the forefront of the fight against  all types of cancer.