Betty Akeredolu, the widow of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, has sparked outrage on social media after referring to Nigeria as a “zoo country that is beyond redemption.”
The controversial remark was made on her X account while comparing the speed of vote counting in Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election with that of the 2024 U.S. election.
Mrs. Akeredolu, a PhD holder, criticized the Nigerian electoral process by noting that while Nigeria took five days to count 25 million votes, the United States counted 155 million votes in about 10 hours. She implied that dishonesty and inefficiency were to blame for the delay, saying, “When dishonesty is prioritised, simple things become difficult.”
The statement triggered a heated backlash from many social media users. Responding to a supportive comment that agreed with her views, Mrs. Akeredolu reiterated her stance, questioning who would save Nigeria and labeling the nation as a “zoo country.” This provoked strong reactions, with critics accusing her of tribalism and ingratitude, given her previous role as First Lady in a government that benefitted from the system.
Several users lambasted Mrs. Akeredolu for her remarks, calling her a “tribal bigot” and accusing her of hypocrisy.
CitizenOlu, a prominent commentator, condemned her as a “tribal bigot” who aligned with divisive rhetoric, while another user, Iyo Obietonbara, criticized her for using inflammatory language that could demoralize the youth.
Others, like Khone, noted that her statements were hypocritical, considering her husband’s long political career as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former governor. Diekololaoluwa added that her late husband would likely be disappointed with her current behavior, which, according to the critic, tarnished his legacy.
Attempts by Mrs. Akeredolu to defend her comments only fueled further criticism, with many accusing her of inciting ethnic hatred and disrespecting Nigeria’s integrity.
