Betty, Akeredolu’s Widow Visits Mausoleum, Calls Olowo Of Owo ‘Baby Oba’

Dr. (Mrs.) Betty Akeredolu-Anyanwu, widow of the late former Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has sparked a fresh wave of controversy following her recent visit to her husband’s mausoleum in Owo. In a video that has gone viral on social media, the former First Lady is seen speaking emotionally at her husband’s graveside. With visible grief and frustration, she appeared to be “reporting” the people of Owo to her late husband, lamenting that they had destroyed the legacies they built together—particularly in Owo town.

In a particularly charged moment, she accused the Olowo of Owo Kingdom of leading what she described as a betrayal of her husband’s memory. 

She referred to the monarch as a “Baby Oba” and claimed that her late husband had “singlehandedly” installed him during his tenure as governor.

“You made him king, and now he has turned against you… they destroyed all we built,” she lamented at the mausoleum.

Her comments have drawn mixed reactions across political and traditional circles. While some sympathize with her sense of loss and emotional expression, others have criticized her remarks, especially the perceived slight directed at the respected traditional ruler.

This development comes in the wake of recent controversy surrounding the demolition of a monument erected in memory of the victims of the 2022 Owo church massacre. The monument, which was situated directly in front of the Olowo’s palace, was reportedly removed following objections from the palace. Some traditionalists had argued that associating the palace with death was a cultural taboo in Owo land, while others viewed the removal as disrespectful to the memory of the massacre victims.

Amid the tension, stakeholders are urging caution and reconciliation, stressing the need to de-escalate any rift between political families and traditional institutions in the state.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Olowo of Owo nor the palace has issued an official response to Dr. Betty Akeredolu’s statements.