The deputy governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has allegedly been accused of not only physically assaulting his wife, Oluwaseun,
Sequel to this, a woman group, the Society for Women Empowerment (SWE), has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the deputy governor to tender a public apology to his wife, as failure to do so will lead to the group carrying out a massive protest.
In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Mrs Damilola Charles, the group said that wife beating was a civil rights problem of enormous magnitude, saying that the campaign against violence on women must be applicable to elected office holders in the country.
The statement reads, “We have taken our time to investigate and confirm the allegations of domestic violence between the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and his wife, Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa.
“Rumour mills are abuzz about the condemnable act of the deputy governor. It is unacceptable that a deputy governor would physically assault his wife and inflict grievous bodily injuries on her.
“It is equally disturbing that the deputy governor would perpetrate this crime against humanity and womanhood and attempt to cover it up.
“Those who occupy public offices are expected to be above board and conduct themselves in a manner that would inspire the people and serve as role models.
“It is shocking to discover that the deputy governor assaulted his wife severally to the point that the wife had to escape to the United Kingdom to save her life.
“The deputy governor has broken moral decorum and acted in a manner that brings his office into disrepute. We are, to say the least, disappointed with this embarrassing conduct.
“We are calling on the First Lady, Chief Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu, and the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in the State to look deeper into the situation and represent the interest of the Nigerian women.
“We are aware that the deputy governor had deliberately attempted to cover up this incident and also silenced his close aides who witnessed the scene on different occasions.”
Reacting to the allegation, the Press Secretary to Aiyedatiwa, Kenneth Odusola, initially said that family matters should be left for family to handle.
“Family matters should be left for the family family matters. I don’t look at family matters, so I don’t know about any domestic violence.”
Odusola would later issue a statement on behalf of the deputy governor describing the allegation as blackmail taken too far.
“It has come to the attention of the Office of the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, that a baseless and false report credited to a faceless Group alleging the Deputy Governor of engaging in domestic abuse and assault on his wife, has been making the rounds in some sections of the media.
“This falsehood and its peddlers would have ordinarily been ignored at this time but the need to halt further negative reports and rumours capable of creating needless tension in our State has necessitated this response.
“The said allegation of domestic abuse against the person of the Deputy Governor is a figment of the imagination of those behind it and their ungodly intentions to cause crisis in the State had been known for weeks and, therefore, such falsehood did not come as a surprise.
“While His Excellency reserves the right to privacy on issues pertaining to his family, it is pertinent to state clearly that there has never been any domestic violence between the Deputy Governor and his lovely wife, Mrs. Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, who, at the moment, is outside the shores of the country.
“It is not a secret that Mrs. Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa has lived and worked in the United Kingdom for many years before her husband became an elected public official in Nigeria and since then she has been shuttling between United Kingdom and Nigeria to take care of the home and the children who are also in the United Kingdom.
“Therefore, any report of alleged domestic issues within the family should be taken as the handiwork of the enemies of the State who are bent on causing crisis where there is none and we, therefore, warn those spreading such falsehood to desist or face the consequences.
“It is concerning to see that a faceless group said to be headed by a name not known anywhere in the State could sell such fabrication to media men. It is more concerning, however, that such lie, which was not backed with any evidence whatsoever, could be promoted.
“In the last four months, quoted in the false report as timeline, His Excellency has been busy with official duties of his office and has, during the period, performed the duties of the office of the Governor as delegated to him by his boss, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, while he was on Leave.
“It is, therefore, uncharitable for anyone to claim that the Deputy Governor has in that period carried out “multiple assaults” on his spouse who is out of the country. This is nothing but political blackmail taken too far.
“We urge the good people of Ondo State to ignore such falsehood as those behind it may just be plotting further attacks on the Deputy Governor to promote their sinister agenda.”
