Betty Akeredolu debunks Reuben Abati’s claims, defends Igbo hospitality

• Following Reuben Abati's statement on Arise TV, Betty Akeredolu, the widow of former Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, condemned the tribalistic comments against her ethnic group
• Chukwudi Iwuchukwu and other netizens reacted negatively to Abati's assertion that Yoruba people are unable to purchase land in the southeast of Nigeria
• Betty Akeredolu's comments received both support and criticism from netizens

Betty Akeredolu, widow of former Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, has spoken out against what she described as false and divisive statements about the Igbo people. 

Her comments were in response to a controversial remark by media personality Reuben Abati on Arise TV, where he claimed Yoruba people face barriers when trying to purchase land in the southeastern part of Nigeria. 

Abati’s controversial comment 

During a broadcast, Reuben Abati said: “It is the irony of Nigeria that the same Igbos who are so industrious that they’re all over and they do well in other parts of Nigeria. You go there as a non-Igbo man to go and buy land, you’ll be told that you don’t belong, even as an in-law.”

This statement sparked backlash online, with many, including a lawyer and social media influencer, Chukwudi Iwuchukwu, debunking the claim. Many argued that Abati’s statements were baseless and fueled unnecessary ethnic tension.

Betty Akeredolu shares her  personal experience

Weighing in on the matter, Akeredolu took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a personal story that challenged the stereotype of Igbo hostility. She recalled how her late husband, Rotimi Akeredolu, was initially misled by similar narratives before embarking on his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) assignment in Enugu.

She posted: “Aketi came for his youth service at Enugu with a dagger. A dagger o! Why? His people told him that Igbos were hostile. 

“A dagger would be handy for protection, his parents advised. LOL! Fast forward, Aketi returned from youth service with a wife. I made fun of him at any given opportunity. It might sound funny but not really funny if you look at the magnitude of falsehood entrenched in Yorubas against Ndigbo as a people. 

“Rueben lied. A BIG FAT LIE. He should not use Chief Benson who died centuries ago as cover up. Na who we go ask? If Aketi wanted to buy the whole of my village, Emeabiam, my people would sell and add jara sef. This gaslighting is becoming too much in recent times. Enough is enough!!!”

Netizens react to Betty Akeredolu’s comments

Her reaction to the slander against Igbos sparked both support and backlash. Some netizens appreciated her response, while others made unfounded claims, including unprintable accusations. TheRadar compiled responses to Betty's post below:  

"If Aketi wanted to buy the whole of my village, Emeabiam, my people would sell and add jars sef" why didn't he buy one? Do we know if he attempted buying and wasn't sold to him... It's easier to use the dead to do cover up since he can't debunk whatever u say now.- Comr. Jaye stated. 

“In the past, when they had the sole monopoly of media houses, they used it to propel lies and propaganda against Igbos but tank God for the availability social media. It's obvious this people are mannerless but uses the media to paint themselves as respectful people” - THE EAGLE added. 

“U lied, no one will ever sell ur whole village to an individual. Cos it did not belong to a particular family of which it some ppl ancestral land” - Ollysoft commented. 

“Aketi was very sick and incapacitated; Betty was planning an extravagant birthday party and asking people to donate money the same period it took an uproar from the state to stop her. While Aketi was in Germany receiving treatment, Betty was in Ondo State fighting for power. The same person is here tweeting moral standards. Radarada!” - Olúyẹmí Fásípẹ̀ AICMC stated. 

“I've been meticulously going through your post recently, and all I can say is thank you for speaking up for ndigbo. Igbo nwere nmadu!”- Imperial Iyke Emmanuel commended. 

“Well, she has to do this to be loved by you guys. Remember, she was once chased away like a dog from her own state. It seems she is still eyeing that senatorial seat, so she needs to be anti-Yoruba to get the slot.”- Yorùbá World commented. 

Seyi Tinubu's wife's ethnicity causes uproar online amid Lagos political ambition

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Seyi Tinubu, the son of Nigeria's President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, faced intense online scrutiny amid rising speculation about his potential bid for the governorship of Lagos State. 

The controversy was fueled by discussions surrounding the ethnicity of his wife, Layal Holm, and her ties to the Igbo community.