By Duchess Ifeoluwa
A heated exchange erupted on X on Saturday after Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, widow of the late Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), berated social media commentator, Dipo Awojide, popularly known as Ogbeni Dipo, for invoking her husband’s name in a post urging South-West governors to take a stronger stance on rising insecurity in the region.
Ogbeni Dipo, in a widely circulated post, had called on Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Seyi Makinde, Dapo Abiodun, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Biodun Oyebanji and Ademola Adeleke to adopt the firm posture he said the late Akeredolu demonstrated in confronting insecurity in the South-West.
He wrote that difficult times demanded difficult measures, warning that the South-West was “being encircled by terrorists” and needed decisive leadership.
The reference to her late husband drew an immediate and fiery response from Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu, who accused the UK-based lecturer of bigotry and hostility towards her during the years of political controversies preceding her husband’s death.
In an angry post, she warned him against mentioning Akeredolu again, using strong language that quickly went viral.
She accused him and others of having targeted her with what she described as “unprovoked and vicious” attacks, adding that she suffered ethnic-based hostility as an Igbo woman married into Ondo State.
Ogbeni Dipo, in his reply, declined to engage in verbal insults, saying he found it difficult “talking back” at her out of respect for the late governor.
He urged her to desist from cursing him, insisting that he had not intended any disrespect.
But Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu fired back, accusing him of hypocrisy and claiming that he and others had contributed to an online atmosphere of intimidation and hostility against her.
She referenced past incidents, including the circulation of videos showing ritual invocations against her in Ondo State, which she said caused her deep distress during her bereavement.
She insisted that her strong reaction was a response to years of unfair attacks, particularly those she said were fuelled by anti-Igbo sentiment.
Ogbeni Dipo responded by denying the allegations, stating that the former First Lady had herself made inflammatory posts about the people of her husband’s home state from her previously suspended social media account.
He also accused her of using ethnic slurs and questioned why she referenced Fulani bandits and Boko Haram in her criticisms but made no mention of IPOB.
He urged her to refrain from further public outbursts, saying family matters should not be aired “for the entertainment of strangers”, and encouraged her to prioritise her mental well-being.
Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu later alleged that Ogbeni Dipo and others were responsible for the suspension of her former account, describing it as a product of “mob action”.
The fiery exchange, which dominated conversations on X throughout the day, rekindled longstanding tensions surrounding the late governor’s illness, death and family dynamics, and highlighted broader ethnic sensitivities that frequently shape online political debates in Nigeria.
Read the details below:
Ogbeni Dipo mentioned Akeredolu’s name while urging Southwest governors to take a stand against the rising insecurity in Nigeria, which is spreading into their region.
He said, “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.”
Reacting, Akeredolu’s wife, who was the First Lady of Ondo State and of Igbo ethnicity, slammed Ogbeni Dipo, calling on Ogun god to kill him.
She said, “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!”
In response, Ogbeni Dipo said, “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.
She fired back, “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 amd 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!!!”
Ogbeni Dipo 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, ma.”
Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu fired back, “You make 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.”
In response, Ogbeni Dipo said, “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.”
She responded, “Oh! Quite interesting. You remember my old handle. You and co-travellers were responsible for the suspended handle. Mob action at work!”
