Wife of Ondo State Governor and an aspirant for Owerri Zone Senate seat in the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr (Mrs) Betty Akeredolu, has been criticized for her comments against Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma.
Mrs Akeredolu had accused Uzodimma of hijacking the Imo East Senatorial Primary, to favour “an unpopular candidate”, who emerged the party’s Senatorial candidate for Owerri zone on Saturday.
Among who have criticized Mrs Akeredolu for her allegations are the All Progressives Congress, APC, Imo State chapter and the Director General, Imo State Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr Ethelbert Okere.
In a statement in Owerri and signed by Cajethan Duke, State Publicity Secretary of the APC, the party said Mrs Akeredolu’s allegations was false, as she “intended to undermine the entire process and discredit the eventual outcome of the primary election”
The APC described her allegations against the Governor as “outlandish and ridiculous”
“It is however regrettable that such an outlandish and ridiculous allegation, could come from Her Excellency, Chief Mrs. Akeredolu, wife of Ondo State Governor and an aspirant for the Imo East (Owerri zone) Senatorial position, having received all the necessary support and solidarity from the governor and the leadership of the party in the course of her aspiration”
The party warned the Ondo State First Lady, to “refrain from reckless use of inciting words that are capable of setting the foundation of the party on fire”
In a related development, the Director General, Imo State Orientation Agency, NOA, Ethelbert Okere, advised Mrs Akeredolu “to use her position as a daughter of Igboland to play the traditional role of peace maker among her maiden kinsmen rather than cause or intensify rancour among them”
Okere said Akeredolu’s outburst was unnecessary and unbecoming of a fellow of her standing.
“As far am concerned, Mrs Akeredolu should not have been in the race in the first place. Her aspiration was against the culture of our people. It was strange of the Igbo culture. After marriage, everything a woman aspires to be is within the context of her marriage.
“She should have contested in Ondo State. If the situation in her maiden State permits, well and good” Okere stated
The DG continued “The First Lady of Ondo State should devote her time to fight political battles in Ondo State where her husband and children would be beneficiaries.Returning here to do political battles was uncalled for.
“May be she was imitating what happened sometime ago in Edo and Rivers State. But we don’t do things that way in Igboland. We are a conservative people moreso culture wise” he said.