Late Ondo State Gov Akeredolu's Widow Betty Talks About Healing After The Betrayal...

EX Ondo state first lady Betty Anyanwu- Akeredolu says she went From grief and betrayal to purpose and voice and that writing became her pathway to healing, leadership, and fulfilment.



She wrote
From grief and betrayal to purpose and voice - how writing became my pathway to healing, leadership, and fulfilment.
I recently came across these words written by Daniel Ben on Substack, and they resonated deeply with me:

“If they choose someone or something over you, move on. Not everyone you love will stay. Not everyone you trust will be loyal”.

Life has a way of confronting us with truths we never imagined we would have to face.
When my husband passed two years ago, I found myself not only navigating grief, but also witnessing betrayal in its most shameless form — from people we had considered friends and political loyalists. It was both shocking and painful. Grief alone is heavy enough; betrayal layered upon loss can feel almost unbearable. At moments, the experience felt horrendous — even terrifying — because it shattered assumptions I had held about loyalty, friendship, and human decency.

But adversity, if we allow it, can also become a teacher.
Time passed. Reflection deepened. Healing began quietly, almost imperceptibly at first. Somewhere along the way, I discovered that holding on to hurt only prolongs suffering, while letting go creates space for peace.

Writing became my refuge.
Through my Substack, I found an anchor — a place to pour out thoughts, process emotions, and reconnect with my inner strength. Each piece I wrote was not just content; it was therapy, clarity, and restoration. In telling my story, I reclaimed my voice. In sharing my reflections, I rediscovered calm.

Importantly, I was not only writing about my loss or grief. I found myself engaging deeply with the issues I care about — gender, widowhood, girls’ empowerment, public health, community development, food security, politics (local and international), insecurity, and the future we must build for our society.

The beauty of it all is that I discovered a new dimension of my voice — a writing power I did not fully know I possessed. I have a lot to say, and people are paying attention. That realization has been both humbling and deeply fulfilling.

Today, I can say with sincerity: I am over it.
Not because the experiences did not matter, but because I chose not to allow them to define me. One of life’s greatest lessons is acceptance — accepting that not everyone is meant to stay, not everyone will be loyal, and not every relationship will endure the storms of life. Some people are seasonal. Some are situational. And some reveal their true nature only when circumstances change.

What matters most is that we do not lose ourselves in the process
What began as a search for healing has evolved into purpose.

I choose peace.
I choose growth.
I choose forward movement.
And in that choice, I have found freedom — and fulfillment.
And perhaps the greatest lesson of all is this: leadership is not only about influencing others; it is also about mastering one’s inner world. The strength to rise above betrayal, to heal without bitterness, and to continue serving with clarity and compassion is, in itself, a quiet but powerful form of leadership.

from Betty's sbustack