THE true mother of Modupe Taiwo, who was killed in last Tuesday’s violence at Ekiti State, has expressed shock over an alleged impersonation by Mrs. Apeke Olaya, who claimed to be the mother of her late son.
Mrs. Deborah Akinyemi, in a chat with The Nation at her home in Idagba Quarters of Efon Alaaye, said she was surprised that Mrs. Olaya could claim to be the mother of her son at a news conference held at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti in the wake of the killing.
The news conference on Wednesday was organised by the government, with Mrs. Olaya telling reporters that her ‘son’ was killed in the April 7 violence at Itawure, on the outskirts of Efon Alaaye, as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and supporters were protesting the impeachment proceedings against Fayose.
Mrs. Olaya cried and rolled on the ground, claiming she was ‘pained’ by the death of her ‘son’.
Mrs. Olaya accused the House of Assembly member representing Efon, Folorunso Ogundele, who belongs to the All Progressives Congress (APC), of complicity in the killing of Modupe, who was a father of two.
The maternity scandal is already causing ripples in both families and the community.
But the authentic mother of Modupe, Mrs. Akinyemi, who was surrounded by mourners and sympathisers when reporters visited her, said Mrs. Olaya was an aunt to the deceased as she (Mrs. Olaya) is the younger sister of the deceased’s father.
The distraught mother also queried the claim in government quarters that Ogundele, the lawmaker representing Efon, was responsible for the killing of her son.
Exonerating Ogundele of complicity in the killing, Mrs. Akinyemi said she had accepted her fate and left justice to God.
Mrs. Akinyemi said she gave birth to the deceased from her marriage to her first husband (Mr. Olaya) who, according to her, was killed in the violence that rocked the 1983 election before her marriage to her husband.
She said the state government had not sent a message to her on the killing of her son, whom she said left behind a wife and two children.
Mrs. Akinyemi said Mrs. Olaya did not obtain the family’s permission before going to the Government House to claim she was the mother of the deceased, saying she was embarrassed to hear the news from neighbours and her family, who watched the ‘drama’ on the state television.
Mrs. Akinyemi said: “I don’t know who killed my son. I don’t know; I can’t say. They were saying it was one lawmaker, who killed my son, how can that be?
“I last saw him (Modupe) two days before his death. He was my fourth child and was born in May 1982. His colleagues said he was among those protesting.
“The woman, who went to the Government House, was his aunt. I’m his true mother. She (Mrs. Olaya) went there without the knowledge of the family.
“I was shocked when the woman claimed she was the mother. She didn’t bring anything to me, but I know she is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member.
“I have not seen his body since. My son is irreplaceable. There is nothing I can do as a poor widow but I have left vengeance to God.”