Wife of the immediate governor of Oyo State, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, on Monday night, said she has been getting recognition and love from people instead of betrayal and hostility.
Mr Ajimobi said she had expected to get otherwise from people as wife of a former governor.
She spoke during the break of fast with the Comrade Demola Babalola-led executive of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in the state led by Mrs Jadesola Ajibola.
Mrs Ajimobi said she chose to break her fast with the NUJ leadership because journalists were among the people that she and her late husband respected and admired the most.
She said as it was natural with people leaving government, she was prepared for betrayal and hostility, after eight years as wife of the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
But rather than betrayal and hostility, she disclosed that she has been getting recognition and love from the people far and near.
“When you leave office, it is a mixed feeling. Like I tell people, I was really prepared (for life outside office). But I didn’t get what I prepared for. I got otherwise.
“I was prepared for a lot of betrayal and hostility. But I didn’t get it. I am saying this with all sense of sincerity. Every time I go out, I get recognition. I feel love from people. People are still standing by my side. I thank God for that.
“I was not a perfect person (while in government). There is no perfect person. I had my faults. We all have our faults. Whatever mine were, they were faults from the head and not from the heart,” she said.
Reminiscing about her late husband, Mrs Ajimobi, who had observed Ramadan fast with her husband for 40 years that they lived together, said she has come to love the former governor more in death.
Earlier, Babalola appreciated Mrs. Ajimobi for the love and honour extended to the union assuring her of the union’s support always.
The NUJ chairman recalled their last discussion with the late Ajimobi on how to erect a building at the NUJ press centre in his name, which he promised to work on before his demise.
Babalola commended the widow for being strong, urging her to continue upholding the legacy of her late husband and erect a project at the press centre to immortalise him.
“We know it will not be easy for a woman who had lived happily with her husband for 40 years. I saw your phone earlier, there was a call that came in.
“I saw a picture that was put on the status, you are still keeping your husband there. It shows that the love was so real and eternal that nothing can come between you.
“We want to thank you mummy for this great honour. We want to assure you of our support all the time.
“We equally want to see a building donated in memory of the great scholar, great politician, astute businessman, a man of no mean standing, a great philosopher and a great orator. We are missing him,” he said.
