Former Ondo State First Lady, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has revealed that her later husband, former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, prioritised spiritual healing over medical treatment during the ailment which claimed his life.

Anyanwu-Akeredolu who spoke about her late husband’s battle with cancer, expressing strong criticism of reliance on spiritual interventions, saying she wouldn’t have been a window id her late husband had listened to her.

In an exclusive interview with Star News publisher, Olumide Akinrinlola, on Thursday, Betty revealed that if her late husband had prioritised medical treatment over spiritual practices, she believed his life could have been prolonged.

In 2023, Anyanwu-Akeredolu attacked a female aide to the former Governor, Bunmi Ademosu, for allegedly interfering in the management of her husband’s health.

Ms Ademosu was the Special Adviser on Public and Inter-Governmental Relations to Akeredolu.

 

In the audio message she was said to have shared on a Whatsapp platform for officials of the former governor, Mrs Akeredolu accused Ms Ademosu of “sneaking in concoctions” for the treatment of her husband’s ailment.

“What came out of their mountain climbing, blessed handkerchiefs, water, olive oil, etc., from the GOs and all the noisy prayers like people possessed by demons? If Aketi had listened to me, I wouldn’t be a widow,” she said.

Betty, a breast cancer survivor, detailed how her understanding of cancer biology and early detection led her to establish the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria in 1997.

She emphasised that cancer should be viewed as a medical issue, not a spiritual attack.

“You cannot pray away breast cancer or any cancer at all,” she asserted.