By Cajetan Muta, Awka
There was a heavy presence of soldiers, policemen and Department of State Security (DSS) within and around the Agu Awka Government House, the Anambra State capital on Thursday to maintain law and order as former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Governor-elect of the state, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and his Deputy, Dr Onyeka Ibezim were sworn in.
The Chief Judge of the state, Justice Onochie Anyachebelu had administered the oath of office and oath of allegiance on Prof. Soludo at about 9:52 am.
Governor Soludo was accompanied by his wife, Dr. (Mrs) Soludo and their four children to take the oath of office amid cheers by eminent personalities and other guests who thronged the venue of the event.
Earlier, the Deputy Governor, Dr Onyeka Ibezim, a companied by his wife, was administered the oath of allegiance and that of office at about 9:41 am by the Chief Judge of the State as guests and party chieftains, as well as support groups, cheered them up.
This is pandemonium broke out at the ceremony as the former First Lady and wife of ex-Governor Willie Obiano, Mrs Eberechukwu Obiano and widow of Biafra leader, Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu engaged each other in a dirty fight in the glare of guests.
The ceremony witnessed a solemn moment as Governor Soludo led former Governor Willie Obiano to his awaiting vehicle to bid him farewell.
With Professor Soludo’s inauguration, the Light of the Nation-State on the Southeast geo-political zone of the country has so far witnessed six democratically elected governors who took over the reins of power in the state.
This is as an estimated 350 journalists drawn from different media houses were on Thursday barred from witnessing the swearing-in ceremony.
The colourful event was slated in front of the conference hall of the Government House Awka, the state capital.
Although, the Correspondents of the Nation Newspaper, three from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and a few Television cameramen and their reporters were allowed inside the venue of the ceremony.
The Governor-elect and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and his wife, Deputy Governor-elect Dr Onyeka Ibezim also accompanied by his wife had all arrived at the venue of the swearing earlier.
Governor Obiano arrived at the Government House at about 9:15 am where he inspected a guard of honour mounted by the police.
Obiano was ushered into the venue amid a rousing welcome by guests and party supporters
He was dressed in mini agbada attire mixed with the symbols of the ruling APGA and with a red Igbo title cap to fit.
However, party supporters and other guests defied the earlier proposal by the protocol department in the government house and other organizers that the ceremony would be low keyed as they besieged the area.
Recall that a statement by Sokudo’s Media aide Mr Joe Anatune on Wednesday stayed that only 50 guests would be allowed inside the conference hall of the Government House while it was learnt that only giving journalists would cover the historic inauguration.
Canopies and projectors were provided for Party supporters, support groups and other guests at different locations close to the venue of the ceremony at the government house.
A brief handover ceremony had been held on Wednesday last week.
Members of the 2022 Transition Committee of Prof Soludo with former Vice of the World Bank (Africa), Professor Oby Ezekwesili as chairman, were in attendance including Prof. Pat Utomi.
Other guests who witnessed the ceremony include former Peter Obi, Senator Victor Umeh, APGA National Chairman Chief Victor Oye, Senator Uche Ekwunife, the clergies, stakeholders of the ruling party, traders and market women including Archbishop Valerian Okeke, Prof. Pat Utomi, Sir Emeka Offor, Dr A. B . C Ojiako, senators Uche Ekwunife, Victor Umeh, Speaker Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Okafor, Hon. Ben Nwankwo, Igwe Chris Onyekwuluje, APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Oye, Reps members Chinedu Obidigwe, Dozie Nwankwo and several others
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However, Mrs Obiano had set the stage on fire as she engaged Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu in a fierce war.
Mrs Obiano had on arrival to Government House, Awka with her husband ((Obiano) confronted Lady Bianca where she was seated and poured invectives on her.
The incident happened as Soludo was taking the oath of office as governor.
Mrs Obiano had walked straight to where Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu was seated close to Prof. Soludo’s wife, Mrs Nonye Soludo and abused her (Ojukwu’s wife) with unprintable words such as “You’re a bitch, you’re a bitch, I think you said, ‘we won’t be governor?”
But Mrs Ojukwu slapped her, and, Mrs Obiano went straight to her head -cover, and, started dragging it.
Security operatives and dignitaries saved the day as they rushed to separate the two of them.
Former Governor Obiano was helpless as he watches straight at the podium where Governor Soludo was signing dotted lines on the oath of office as he was being guided by the Chief Judge, Justice Anyachebelu.
Governor Soludo had after delivering his speech, walked down from the podium, and was greeted in a warm embrace by Obiano who has also driven away with his wife immediately.
Governor Soludo in his speech pledged not to disappoint the people of the state.
He promised to focus on security and to tackle the challenge of education across the three Senatorial Districts of the state.
