The Ondo State government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state are locked in a war of words over the decision of the wife of the governor, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu to contest for a senate seat in her home state, Imo.

In a statement by its state Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, the PDP accused Mrs Akeredolu of using the state’s money to finance her political aspirations in Imo State.

According to the opposition party, the Ondo State first lady has taken all the people of the state should enjoy to her home state to boost her aspirations.

“Last week, Betty Akeredolu officially joined the Senatorial race for Imo East under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“In her address to journalists in Owerri, Mrs Akeredolu said, ‘I am vying for the Senate of Imo East to change the narrative about Owerri Zone. Yes, l am married to the Governor of Ondo State but that shouldn’t deprive me of the right to seek to represent Imo East, which is my maiden Senatorial District. I am proud to come from Emeabiam in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State. Our biggest challenges are roads and hospitals but l am happy that l have been able to attract a 10.5km of roads to Emeabiam at the cost of N16bn. I am grateful to the NDDC… l know my going to Senate will attract huge development for the people of Imo State’.

“Few questions immediately come to mind. Was Betty trying to brag about her status of being a Governor’s wife or trying to reconnect with her roots as being part of the Emeabiam community? Has she ever been involved in development activities or politics of Imo State before her husband became Governor? How many of such NDDC Projects has she influenced to Ondo State?

“Betty’s Senatorial aspiration has been clinically conceptualised immediately after Akeredolu was sworn in as Governor. The first sign was that, some of the Free School Shuttle buses bought by the Dr. Olusegun Mimiko government for easy movement of school children were sighted in Owerri. Of the over 95 buses, not more than 20 are parked at the premises of the Ministry of Works at various levels of decay. The Ondo State government has not told the people the whereabout of the remaining buses. If the government says it has no money to run the buses, one will expect to see the buses on ground. The missing buses may have been used to oil the ‘back to my roots’ project,” the opposition party said.

The PDP added that Mrs Akeredolu who has been a recipient of many chieftaincy titles in Imo State has continued to run the state dry in exchange for those titles.

“There is none of these ceremonies that did not cost Ondo State Tax Payers huge resources that could be channelled to the welfare of the people. If you have received any such traditional title in Nigeria before, you will appreciate what is at stake here,” part of the statement read.

Responding however, Debo Akinbami, Special Assistant to the Governor of Ondo State on New Media & Archives (office of the first lady), said Mrs Akeredolu is an accomplished professional and has what it takes to aspire for any political position in the country.

He also said the Ondo first lady would continue to attract projects to her people in Imo not minding what anybody would continue to say.

“Being part of the specious allegations conjured by the Peoples Democratic Party through its sickly publicity secretary, it is alleged that the Free School Shuttle buses procured by the administration of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko were sighted in Owerri, a subtle but silly euphemism for supposing that the buses are being used in Owerri to expedite the political ambition of Mrs Akeredolu, who is from Imo State. Whereas, matter-of-factly, not a single one of the contentious shuttle buses is in any part of Owerri.

“For the records, however, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu facilitated the construction of a 10.5km road project for her immediate constituency at the cost of N1.6bn, as against the barefaced falsity of the pathological liars to the extent that the road is being constructed at the cost of N16bn. Meanwhile, the road project in question is being sponsored by NDDC, of which Imo is a stout part. It is not the first of time she would assist her constituents, particularly in private capacity and she will continue to do so without apologies to pretenders who expect her to hate her people the way they hate theirs.

“While we sympathise with the opposition who is already used to idlers as First Ladies and so finding the clout of the incumbent to contend with, it must be stressed that Mrs Akeredolu who is contesting to represent the Owerri Zone at the National A ssembly is an accomplished professional who having reached the peak of her career at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, retired and since been contributing to helping and healing humanity in various ways, hence she has the requisite contents, contacts and wherewithal to win election and do well as a Senator.

“It is not only deceitful and hypocritical for the downing opposition to have given the false impression that the First Lady is relying on the Ondo State exchequer to fund her political ambition, it also shows the extent of certain desperate sadists to stain the immaculate standing of Mrs Akeredolu,” Akinbami said.

https://westernpost.ng/ondo-govt-pdp-trade-words-over-akeredolus-wifes-senatorial-ambition-in-imo/

.never you trust this Owerri girls Dem
If she later win after using her husband's money ...
She go dump the old man because by that time he don become ex governor.....

She de crazy?
First lady in Ondo, Senator in Imo

Pdp is right here.The woman is a thief greediness is worrying her.Because your husband is a governor and got enough money now you want to contest for Senate.

If IMO STATE people want they should do Mumu for her.

That Akeredolu sef

She don see say na free money they govt



Dem go shop her money she no go win

According to what that Slave Akinbo or whatever said, if the buses are not sighted in owerri, then where are the buses? He should point out where the buses are.

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Tinubuadvocate:
Pdp is right here.The woman is a thief greediness is worrying her.Because your husband is a governor and got enough money now you want to contest for Senate.

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