Betty & Funke Akeredolu.

Funke Akeredolu-Aruna, niece of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, has claimed that his widow, Betty, verbally attacked her after she refused to align with the state "cabal" opposing incumbent Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

“When Mr Lucky was the deputy governor. I didn’t support the cabal against him; I stood by this governor because everything they were saying was false,” said Mrs. Akeredolu-Aruna.

As reported by Gazette, Anyanwu-Akeredolu on Monday attacked her late husband’s niece, describing her as a “bloody serpent,” for supporting the political aspiration of Mr Aiyedatiwa. 

Nevertheless, Mrs. Akeredolu-Aruna, who previously served as the deputy chief of protocol in Ondo, affirmed that she had been supportive of Mr. Aiyedatiwa since his tenure as the deputy governor.

“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,” Mrs Akeredolu-Aruna said. 

She disclosed that Aiyedatiwa maintained a positive relationship with his late principal before his passing, dismissing the notion propagated by certain factions as political fabrications.

Mrs. Akeredolu-Aruna noted her lack of belief in the rumors surrounding Mr. Aiyedatiwa, citing it as one of the reasons for her endorsement of the incumbent governor's political endeavors.

“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 supporting Lucky,” said Mr Akeredolu’s niece.

While explaining that what transpired between Messrs Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa was politics, she noted that her late uncle never discussed Mr Aiyedatiwa’s impeachment. 

“So, mummy (Akeredolu’s wife) that is fighting and attacking me now, she has her reason because she is not supporting this present governor. 

“They are afraid because they know he (Aiyedatiwa) would check their books, and things would start rolling out by the time he checks their books.

“Everybody, I meant the cabals, were just fighting for their selfish interest or political ambition sponsoring writers and write-ups,” she added.