April 03, (THEWILL) – Betty Akeredolu may be wielding political power behind the scene as the first lady of Ondo State, but the breast cancer survivor is now ready to boldly step into the limelight. Having worked closely with her husband and Governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu, she is ready to prove that she is truly worth her onions in terms of political activity. She has indicated interest in representing the Imo East Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
Although she has always been passionate about the rights of the girl-child, gender equality and women inclusion in governance, her desire to venture fully into the realm of politics has been a huge surprise to many Nigerians. Yet pundits have predicted that her ambition may just be dead on arrival. More so, some people have argued that she is not fit to occupy the position.
Mrs Akeredolu’s political opponents insist that a first lady in Ondo State cannot become a senator in Imo State. Having aligned with the people of Ondo for almost five years, they argue, she cannot just wake up and claim that she is ready to serve her kith and kin in Imo State.
Although the first lady is a native of Emebiam Community in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State and she has been visiting the state to inspect projects, such as the ongoing reconstruction of Emebiam-Okolasi Road as part of her plan to encourage her constituents to support her senatorial ambition, naysayers believe that her emergence is coming at a time when the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) is making efforts to produce a senator from the zone for the first time. Her critics insist that she needs to step down for other prominent sons of the land to occupy the position.
