Oshiomhole under fire for saying ‘Obaseki’s wife has no child’

Outrage has trailed the comment of Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, that Betsy, wife of Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, “has no child”.

On Thursday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state flagged off its governorship campaign for Esan south-east LGA at Ubiaja township stadium.

During the campaign, Betsy introduced Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, wife of Asue Ighodalo, PDP governorship candidate, to the crowd present at the event.

Betsy claimed that Ighodalo was the only governorship candidate in the September 21 election with a wife.

The first lady urged women to vote for a candidate who has a wife, adding that 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.”

Reacting in an interview with journalists, Oshiomhole said he was shocked to hear Betsy say Monday Okpebholo, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has no wife.

The former Edo governor claimed that Betsy and his husband have no child and did not adopt.

“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,” Oshiomhole said.

“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 against Betsy has elicited reactions on X .

SEE REACTIONS:

Always ensure that politicians have a shelf life in the arena. It’s in your best interest to do so. https://t.co/qwqUi8MtPd

— Olúṣeun Onígbindé (@seunonigbinde) September 1, 2024

Mrs. Obaseki and Oshiomole are both silly for those statements. They will leave critical issues aside and start making heavy weather of who has a wife and who doesn't have a child.

Politics makes elderly people behave like kids. https://t.co/NU9lKPR4A0

— Lord Charles of Churchgate (@lordcharles01) September 1, 2024

Can you imagine a man at 70+.
Wisdom doesn’t go with age.
Oshiomole should come up from this pettiness. https://t.co/sidsSONS3R

— Olóyè T.D Esq (@BolanleCole) September 1, 2024

This man called Oshiomhole needs to be tamed at all cost.

A man whose mouth runs like a leaking tap with no control .

A very irresponsible man .

These are the kind of characters in the senate . https://t.co/OnKhPs1sWj

— Ochinanwata D 1st (@mr_ochonogor) September 1, 2024

This is below the belt. An handshake beyond the elbow. There should be a minimum irreducible level of civility and respect in the political arena.

I’m disappointed Com. Oshiomole is saying this. It looks like a mockery to me and such remark is unexpected of an elder statesman. https://t.co/X3eWR4sLmh

— ERINLÁKÁTABÚ OF IWOLAND (@Ogbeni__Skrtel) September 1, 2024

I actually like this, if you used marriage as a reason to insult someone, it’s fair to also use your barrenness to insult you. No one should have the monopoly to be mad.

Enough of hypocrisy https://t.co/FPFFfvCEDm

— THE 9JA FARM BOY (@SlimmytiNY) September 1, 2024

Obaseki's wife found the APC candidate's weak point while not covering hers. Now she has been hit below the belt…sad gbos gbas.

This reminds me of the UK Tory leadership election when Andrea Leadson implied insult on Theresa May's Childlessness.

Osho carried vuvuzela out! https://t.co/v5i7KHjG2w

— VESPER MARTINI (@HeartWithThanks) September 1, 2024

This is despicable by Adam Oshiomhole. He needs to apologize to Mrs Obaseki and all those who struggled to have children but are unable to. Oshiomhole is JD Vance of Nigeria.

— Omano Edigheji, PhD (@OmanoE) September 1, 2024

One thing about going personal on political campaigns is that you can't control it. Once you go that way, everything is out of control because it has no jurisdiction. Oshiomhole went below the belt here. But Mrs. Obaseki shouldn't have triggered it. Stay on issues, not personal.

— GCFR (@Simon_Lvar) September 1, 2024