Betty-Anyanwu Akeredolu, widow of the late former Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, has kicked against a memorial lecture being organised by the state government to honour the deceased.  

Mr Akeredolu, who was serving his second term, died on December 27, 2023, at a hospital in Germany after battling prostate cancer.  

In line with the provisions of the country’s constitution, the late governor was immediately succeeded by his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who took over the reins of power before he was voted in at the November off-cycle guber election in the state. 

Peoples Gazette reports that a year after Mr Akeredolu’s demise, the state government led by Mr Aiyedatiwa has scheduled a public lecture for Friday to commemorate his passing.  

The lecture, scheduled to take place at the International Event and Culture Centre, Dome, Akure, is to be delivered by renowned legal practitioner Femi Falana, SAN, while Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa is to chair the Akeredolu Leadership Lecture Series.  

Ebenezer Adeniyan, the chief press secretary to Mr Aiyedatiwa, announced the public lecture on Thursday evening via his social media page.  

However, in a swift reaction, Ms Betty-Anyanwu stated that the family of the deceased was not involved in organising the lecture series.  

She described the lecture series as a scheme to syphon the state’s resources.  

“Which legacy? Lecture, my foot! This is not for Aketi because I and my family are not aware. Damn it! As the saying goes, you and your co-travellers cannot shave Aketi’s head in his absence.  

“You cannot weep more than the bereaved. This is an insidious propaganda carried too far! Lucky, you are preoccupied with rubbishing Aketi’s legacy; you can’t succeed, anyway.  

“Anybody close to Aketi and Arabinrin becomes your enemy. Your minions are scared to get close; otherwise, they lose their appointments. Now you want to pretend by organizing one yeye lecture for Aketi’s memorial as an entry point to chop money on Aketi’s head.  

“You are on your own o! If this is not #yahoo #419 lecture, tell me what it is,” the late governor’s widow said.  

Mr Adeniyan could not be immediately reached for further comment.  

Since her husband’s demise, Ms Akeredolu has been a vocal critic of Mr Aiyedatiwa’s government after he assumed power in the state.