Respondents ask Oshiomhole to marry insulted widow

Commentators say incident was divine providence

The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomole, has been commended for apologising to and compensating a widow, Joy Ifije, whom he insulted while on an environmental inspection of Benin City.

Several respondents in Ogun State also suggested that the governor, whose wife died in 2010, marry the widow.

According to some of the respondents interviewed by PREMIUM TIMES, the meeting between the governor and the widow may have been occasioned by divine forces. The respondents were of the opinion that, being a widower, there was no harm in the Governor remarrying and that it would be appropriate to marry a widow.

"I am of the opinion and conviction that the meeting and the incident between the governor and the widow, which later attracted public attention, was divine.

"As we can see today, the governor felt for the woman, had to apologise over the error and even empowered her," Albert Ashipa, a politician in the state, noted.

The Governor, on Monday, offered Mrs. Ifije N2 million and a job.

"From my own opinion, I think God has a purpose for the two of them and there is nothing wrong if the two eventually fall in love, in view of their marital positions. I believe both cannot and should not remain single parents for life," Adunni Eweje, a petty trader in Kuto market, also posited.

A civil servant, Razaq Ayinla, while commending the governor for his gesture, concurred that the development was God's doing and advised that the duo make positive use of the opportunity.

"The development is God's doing and I want to advise the governor and the woman to make good use of the divine opportunity as they are known to be facing the same challenges," Mr. Ayinla said.

Adesola Adenopo, a resident of Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Abeokuta, in her reaction, noted that biblically, it is appropriate for the two of them to re-marry.

Also commenting, Olanrewaju Dasaolu, a hotelier gave kudos to the governor, for realising his error and correcting himself.

'I equally support the suggestion that the two may get married. Afterall, they are facing same challenges. And with the incident which occurred, I think it's God's calling and should see it as God's doing' Dasaolu emphasised.

The Governor, during the inspection, had seen the widow displaying her wares beside the road. When she pleaded for mercy to avoid the seizure of her goods, he asked her to go and die.

The governor's words were roundly condemned by the public.

When apologising to the widow, Mr. Oshiomole said his words were borne out of anger and frustration.

'"Let me apologise to you for the way I spoke to you; I am very sorry about the statement. I have also realised that even in anger, one could still achieve the same result that he set out to without provocative outburst. I apologise from the bottom of my heart, but sometimes you get angry when people compromise your efforts," the governor said.