The daughter of popular politician and businesswoman, Alhaja Falilat Yusuf Ero-Arike, Abike, has appealed to Nigerians to temper justice with mercy and reconsider calls to boycott her mother’s balm business.
Abike’s appeal came after a woman identified by her TikTok handle, “Iya Turkey of Ede”, called on Nigerians to stop patronising Ero-Arike’s products over her alleged comments and actions against Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and supporters of the Accord party during the build-up to the governorship election.
In a series of videos, the TikTok user accused Ero-Arike of allegedly abusing the governor, calling him unprintable names and laying curses on him.
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She also criticised the businesswoman over a video in which she was seen frying Akara over the Accord party; an action that generated reactions among residents and social media users.
However, reacting to the controversy, Abike distanced herself from her mother’s actions, saying she did not support the decision to fry akara over the Accord symbol or cursing people to whom she distributed rice.
Abike said, “I’m not in support of what Ero-Arike did. Frying akara over Accord and cursing those she shared rice to.
“Secondly, I can’t meddle between her fight with Adeleke. It is an elders’ fight because I didn’t know what transpired between them.”
She, however, appealed to Nigerians not to allow their disagreement with her mother to affect the employees who depend on her balm business for their livelihood.
“Speaking of the balm, I am not apologising to Nigerians to patronise her balm for her sake. I am doing that for the sake of her employees.
“If she stops selling balm today, she won’t be affected because that’s not her only business.
“I am begging because of the people whose source of livelihood comes from her. If people stop patronising her, they would be affected,” she said.
Abike maintained that she was not defending her mother’s actions, but was only pleading for the welfare of the people who could lose their means of livelihood if the boycott continues.
“I was never in her support for frying the akara. It was wrong of her. But temper justice with mercy and consider those that would be hurt in the process,” she said.
Appealing particularly to residents of Iwo and its environs, she said, “People of Iwo and the environs in Osun, please consider her employees. Please overlook her because she won’t be affected. Consider her employees, please.”
She subsequently apologised to the people of Ede, Governor Adeleke, the Timi of Ede and Nigerians generally over the controversy.
“I am apologising to all people of Ede, Governor Adeleke, Timi of Ede and Nigerians in general. Please, I only want to seek redress so that people whose source of livelihood through her won’t be cut off,” Abike added.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
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