THE BASELESS RUMOUR ABOUT BIMBO CARDOSO AND HER STEP-MUM, OPRAL BENSON

What is this noise about the perceived scuffle between Bimbo Cardoso, the daughter of Otunba TOS Benson, the elder statesman and her stepmother, Chief Opral Mason Benson? Some people are spreading the ugly tale that Bimbo, the wife of Olayemi Cardoso, the former Lagos State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, is unimpressed with the portion of inheritance that came to her from her father’s estate. And she is accusing her stepmother for being responsible for her plight. Talebearers peddling this rumour claimed that the erstwhile chummy relationship that existed between the two women has become very frosty. They claimed that following the death of the family patriarch in 2008, Bimbo has made a volte-face and became disdainful of the Yeye Oge of Lagos, whom many perceive a rare breed and a quintessence of motherhood.

But most people are wont to disregard this rumour, considering the depth of love that exists between Bimbo and her stepmother. Even some close family and friends have refuted the claim that the relationship between the two women has gone wary. Within the Lagos social circle, it is a well-known fact that Opral brought up and groomed Bimbo, after her own mother died at a very tender age. Moreover, Bimbo is quite fond of regaling her friends with the tale of how Opral cajoled her father into sending her to the university in England. Thus, Bimbo grew to regard Opral as her mother. She even gets more recognition more than Opral’s biological daughter, Precious. Mama, as Opral Benson is fondly called played prominent role during the wedding of Bimbo’s daughter to Folorunso Alakija’s son in 2012.