A comment made by Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, about Betsy, wife of Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, has sparked outrage.
Gatekeepers News reports that Oshiomhole claimed that Betsy and her husband have no child and did not adopt.
The controversy began when Betsy introduced Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, wife of Asue Ighodalo, PDP governorship candidate, at a campaign event in Ubiaja township stadium.
Betsy urged women to vote for a candidate who has a wife, saying it would translate to women’s empowerment.
“Let’s campaign and vote for the best candidate in this forthcoming election. I want to introduce his wife. Incidentally, out of all the candidates contesting this election, only one has a wife,” Betsy said.
“That is our own party candidate — Asue Ighodalo. This is his wife, Ifeyinwa Ighodalo.”
Oshiomhole reacted to Betsy’s comment by saying, “I was shocked yesterday to see Mrs Obaseki, the first lady, saying our candidate has no wife. I’m sorry she had to say that because here is a woman who has no child. Between him (sic) and Obaseki, they are childless. They are not even ready to adopt.”
He continued, “I don’t blame anybody who doesn’t have a child but people who have love for children go to a motherless home and adopt. They have not adopted. They are both in their sixties.
“Our candidate not only has children, he has invested in the education of those children, such that the first one who spoke (at a campaign rally) is a lawyer, and the second is a medical doctor. They addressed the crowd in Edo south, Edo central and north, and their mother was there.”
Oshiomhole’s comment has elicited reactions on social media, with many criticising him for his remark about Betsy’s childlessness.
See reactions below:
