Politics
Late Akeredolu’s Family Rumbles Over Aiyedatiwa’s Guber Ambition
Wife of the late Governor of Ondo State, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has tackled her late husband’s niece, Mrs Funke Akeredolu-Aruna, for supporting the governorship aspiration of incumbent Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The Tide’s source reports that Mrs Akeredolu-Aruna who served as former Deputy Chief of Protocol in the administration of late Governor Akeredolu had thrown her weight behind Governor Ayedatiwa.
In a social media post on Monday, late Governor Akeredolu’s widow described her husband’s niece as a ‘bloody serpent’ for supporting the incumbent governor who is eyeing the governorship ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the November 16 poll.
“Behold the face of Aketi’s niece, Funke Akeredolu Aruna, the former deputy chief protocol to Aketi, shamelessly parades as ‘I am lucky’ bloody serpent! Time will tell if she is truly lucky!” Mrs Akeredolu wrote on social media.
In a swift reaction, the niece said she was being attacked by the former Governor’s widow for rendering her political support to the incumbent Governor Aiyedatiwa.
In a chat with The Tide source, the late governor’s niece revealed that she refused to join the opponents and enemies in chastising the incumbent governor over his political aspirations.
“Mummy (Akeredolu’s wife) is fighting and attacking me now because she has her reason and she is not supporting the incumbent governor.
“I just happened to be a victim of circumstances with whatever that is happening. I was the deputy chief of protocol in the last administration to my uncle (Akeredolu) and this present governor was like a family too to the Akeredolu family,” she said.
While noting that the former governor and Aiyedatiwa were very close before he died, Akeredolu-Aruna said the late governor took the incumbent like a brother who could easily be trusted.
“So, I also called this present governor an uncle. Because of that when the initial issue started, I meant when Lucky was the deputy governor, I didn’t support the cabal.
“It got to a time, they started saying I was dating him (Lucky). When I heard that I was dating him I was surprised. You know that type of white lies that you believed that is not possible and because of what was going on, I didn’t believe all that was being said about him.
“Now that he (Aiyedatiwa) is now the present governor, I happened to be one of the assistant convener of Orimisan Lucky Women in the state, a supporting group for his reelection bid and this particular group is number one in the state because we are all over the 18 LGAs.”
“So, we had a programme yesterday to chart a way forward and it was during this programme that they took my picture. It is just politics and I want to believe that it is the opposition that took that picture and started sending it around with blackmail.
“I think that’s where the late governor’s wife now got the picture and you know she was disappointed that I’m not in their camp and everybody knows I’m in Lucky’s camp. I have always been there when the whole shenanigans started, especially when the politics was hot in the state. It’s not new to the family members that I’m Lucky.
“I won’t back out from Lucky’s camp. I cannot see where there is light and follow darkness. All these things that are flying around the incumbent governor are pure lies because as a Christian I cannot pitch my tent with lies. I have my integrity and I hold it in high spirits.”
Recall that there was animosity between the late governor’s wife and Gov Aiyedatiwa after late Gov Akeredolu got incapacitated before he gave up at a German hospital on December 27, last year.
A grassroots organisation known as Sir Siminalayi Fubara Peace Initiative, Friends For Good Governance, has passed a confidence vote on the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara over his development strides in the state within a short time in office.
Apart from the numerous development projects embarked upon by the governor in the state, the body expressed delight over the recent payment of N85,000.00 minimum wage to civil servants in the State to reduce the economic burden of workers and their dependants.
Spokesperson of the organisation, Chief Felix Ologara, who addressed newsmen in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area described Governor Fubara’s administration as the most compassionate, peace-loving and labour-friendly in Nigeria.
Coordinator of the NGO, Comrade Felix Nnaa, also lauded the governor of Rivers State for staying focused on the development of the state despite the challenges by detractors of his administration.
The NGO also commended the newly elected local government chairmen in the state, particularly the chairman of Khana LGA, Hon Martin Nwigbo and his Tai counterpart, Hon Mathew Dike for modelling their leadership style after Governor Fubara’s in providing essential services to the people.
On his part, the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Hon. Martins Nwigbo, who also spoke with the press assured that his administration will give priority attention to the development of Khana, particularly in providing security, economic empowerment, human capital development and restoration of power in the area.
Former President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Professor Atuboyedia Obianime, has called for a people centred governance in Nigeria.
Prof. Obianime said this at the Rivers Liberation Summit and Awards organised by the Ijaw Wari Initiative Worldwide in Port Harcourt.
He said projects execution are good but government must come up with policies that will create employment opportunities for the people.
The former INC president particularly urged the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, to revive all moribund industries with the view to creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state and stressed the need for the revamping of the agricultural sector in the state.
Also speaking, a former chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Dr Sam Sam Jaja, said the Ijaws will never surrender their rights for any reason.
“We know where we come from and we know where we are now; we know the battle we fought and we know the battle we are still fighting and one thing is very important among us, we will never surrender our rights for any reason”, he said.
Dr Jaja said the Ijaws have been known to fight against oppression and marginalisation and commended the Ijaw Wari Initiative for complementing the INC.
“What we are doing today is to honour Ijaw sons and daughters who deserve to be honoured and of course we have one of our elderly sons to tell us what we have done in terms of pursuing leadership”, he added.
He also described the Ijaws as symbols of leadership, adding: “it starts from us and it will continue to remain with us for a long time”
Dr Jaja also declared that with an Ijaw man at the saddle of leadership in the State, the people will see a new phase of governance, adding that areas neglected will be touched, while expressing optimism that the event would equip the participants to face the challenges ahead.
In his welcome address, the president of Ijaw Wari Initiative Worldwide, Somina Wokoma, said the event was to “commemorate the October 30th, 2023, failed attempt to impeach our dear Governor which marked a turning point in our democratic journey”.
“As we converge on this epoch making occasion, we celebrate the triumph of democracy, people oriented leadership and the resilience of Rivers people”, he said.
John Bibor
A non- governmental organisation in Rivers State, the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force ( (NDPVF), Opobo/Nkoro Chapter, has tasked Chairmen of the 23 Local Government Areas of the State to urgently focus on aggressive infrastructural and human capital development projects.
This is contained in a statement released by the group in Port Harcourt shortly after her Chapter Executive Council ( CEC) meeting in Opobo Town, and signed by its Coordinator, Commander Idawari Brown; Secretary, Comrade Success Dinne Ebranga and Public Relations Officer, Comrade Lucky Ubani.
The group urged the chairmen and councillors to be proactive in the discharge of their assignment of dispensing quality service delivery in their areas of jurisdiction and admonished them to follow the leadership example of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“There is need for the Chairmen of various Councils in the state to ensure that they emulate the leadership style of the governor by building bridges of transformation, human capital development and youth inclusiveness in governance of their LGAs”, the statement said.
The group further admonished the chairmen of the various councils and their Councillors to put in their best in the leadership of their local areas for the well-being of the people.
“The people are in dire need of your contributions for better development bridges in terms of even distribution of development projects and programmes that will have direct- bearings on the people’s welfare and lives.
“They should include those who have what it takes to develop the areas through their contributions to move the area forward developmentally.
“We urge the chairmen of various councils and their councillors not to appoint anybody on political patronage in order to siphon the treasury of the councils.
“We would not tolerate this lackluster attitude from any council chairmen Councillors. The real thing should be done through those with leadership expertise and are ever ready to join forces with them to build a pleasant and virile Local Government Areas administration for posterity.
By: Bethel Toby