Dirty Slap: Ex-Anambra first lady Obiano apologises to Ojukwu’s wife, declares for senate

The immediate past First Lady of Anambra State, Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano, has apologised to Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, Ndigbo and friends of Ndigbo, over her fight with Bianca Ojukwu, a former ambassador and widow of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

Mrs Obiano also declared her intention to join the contest for the forthcoming Anambra North Senatorial District election.

Newsflash Nigeria had reported that Ebelechukwu and Bianca in Awka had fought after a heated exchange during the inauguration of Soludo as Anambra governor on March 17, 2022.

During the heated conversation between the duo, Bianca slapped Obiano’s wife, an incident that caused a commotion at the event.

But in a letter addressed to Governor Soludo titled “A Public Apology”, Mrs Obiano said, “Permit me to use this medium to humbly convey to you my sincere, heartfelt and unreserved apology for the unfortunate incident between Mrs Bianca Ojukwu and myself on Thursday, March 17, 2022, the day of your inauguration as the new Executive Governor of Anambra State in which you took over from my husband, His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano.

“The incident, to say the least, was most unnecessary, unfortunate and I regret my action. It was an unintended action as violence is never in my character.

“Your Excellency, Sir, I hold your person, your ideals, the records of your great accomplishments in public service in Nigeria and beyond, as well as their concomitant colossal impacts on public policies in the highest esteem.

“Without any equivocation, your achievements as a towering intellectual of national and international repute are enduring legacies and pride for the State and Ndigbo in general.

“I will therefore never deliberately engage in any activity or action to disrespect you and your Government.

“All those who know me can testify that before and throughout my eight years as the First Lady of State, I pursued peace, promoted philanthropic gestures which empowered many of our less privileged people. No excuse can therefore be tenable as justification for such public embarrassment, no matter the height of provocation.

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“Equally, I wish to extend the same apology to all the important dignitaries, the people of Anambra State, as well as the entire Ndigbo for that unintended embarrassment at the occasion.

“I want to use this opportunity to pledge that I will wholeheartedly support and pray for the Government of His Excellency, Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, to excel exceedingly better than the immediate past government, even as he builds on the legacy of his predecessor, my husband, His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano, and take our dear State to a higher level.

“I consciously chose this medium to express my apology, goodwill, support and prayers publicly to His Excellency, Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, as a token of my full respect for him, his family and the entire Ndigbo”, she stated.

On her senatorial ambition, Mrs Obiano made her intention known to a select group of journalists in Awka saying, “My interest to join the Senatorial race is in response to an overwhelming pressure and calls from my people to represent them in the Senate at the National Assembly, Abuja”.

According to her, “As has been attested to by the good people of Anambra State, service to people, humanity and sharing love and putting smiles on sad faces are my priority in life, and I know that it is the will of God because the Bible says that God is Love.

“Therefore, having witnessed and been positively touched by my ever willing disposition to care for people, empower the poor and needy, especially women and children, particularly widows, orphans and the destitute, my people decided that I should come and serve them better in a higher capacity,” she said.

The former First Lady, therefore, said that she is willing, ready and has accepted the call by her people to come and service them.

Fielding questions about the incident between her and Bianca, Ebelechukwu said that she has put all of that behind her as a God-fearing person, adding that she remained grateful to God that she resisted and overcame the temptation to retaliate against the physical assault meted out on her.

She added that “As a peaceful person that I am well known for, violence has never been in my character” and so she remained “grateful to several elders, statesmen, friends and associates of the Obianos, as well as a countless number of good people of Anambra State who called and expressed their concerns and offered wise counsels and words of comfort after the unfortunate drama”.

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