By Olusegun Olanrewaju (Lagos) and Cajetan Mmuta (Awka)
A closely followed inauguration. Good promises and economic challenges by way of an impressive address. A highly dramatic climax of a slap capped with an apology for the biggest celebrant of the day. And highly combustible Anambra had it all again, yesterday.
The new Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, was being officially sworn-in alongside his deputy, Onyeka Ibezim, at a high-profile ceremony which was marred by a hail of executive slaps.
Outgone governor, Willie Obiano, was seated with his wife, Ebele; alongside other dignitaries from all walks of life during the handing over to the state’s six civilian governor when the drama happened.
The state Chief Justice, Onochie Anyachebelu, was busy taking the oath of office before all hell was let loose between two highly placed women; a state’s first lady, and a former Nigerian ambassador.
In a bitter fight that set the incoming Soludo administration on a challenging course from the blast of the whistle, an altercation had led to an angry display of manners that sent tongues wagging at the inauguration.
On the day of the bitter altercation, the former first lady of Anambra State, Ebelechi Obiano, had reportedly come to the inauguration ground, set for a fight.
She reportedly approached the widow of a former Biafran warlord, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, at the front row of the event, where she was seated close to her husband, Willie.
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In a video that eventually trended, Ebele rained abuses on the latter, causing Ojukwu, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain to deal a hot slap on a gubernatorial face.
However, shortly after the celebration, Bianca, a chieftain of the state’s ruling party, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) took a serious matter on a lighter, embarrassing note.
She wrote on the social media handle, Facebook, “It’s Liberation Day, and today we sing the Redemption Song. Anambra will be better!”
She added, “Now, I know just how those Israelites felt on the day they took those tentative first steps out of the land of Egypt…
“Just the sheer excitement and anticipation of liberation, the long-awaited return to the promised land must have kept them awake through that night.
“This is the Day the Lord has made…a day that reaffirms the age-long truth that no-one holds the stage forever. I thank the Almighty for keeping us all alive to witness this day.”
She added that a more dynamic and progressive Anambra is achievable. “To Him be the glory. It was long in coming, but it’s finally here.
“Yes indeed….WE ARE THE BARRACKS!” she added.
Surprise and anger trailed the altercation which drew the indignation of guests who watched the public show of shame.
Comments came in torrents, including another high profile one from former Minister of Aviation and one-time senator, Stella Oduah, who berated Mrs Obiano, saying, “Only weak minds label hardworking women like Bianca (Ojukwu) an ‘Ashawo’.
A former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah has reacted to the faceoff between outgoing Anambra first lady, Ebele Obiano, and Bianca Ojukwu at Gov Charles Soludo’s inauguration.
Senator Stella Oduah condemned Mrs Ebelechi Obiano’s conduct, describing it as shameful.
•Oduah’ tweet
Reacting via her Twitter handle, Oduah who represents Anambra North in the Senate, wrote: “My attention has been drawn to the shameful conduct of the wife of the ex-governor and former first lady of Anambra State, Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano, who threw decorum away and attacked Her Excellency, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu at today’s inauguration ceremony and I hereby condemn In strong terms. This unwarranted attack against the wife of an illustrious son and our very own Ikemba.
“I wish to add that the activity exhibited by the former first lady was indecorous and unbecoming of a woman who had acted as a mother of the state and even desirous of serving in other capacities.
“More condemnable is even the gutter and vulgar language used by Mrs Obiano to describe her fellow woman, who is even a widow. I have always held the view that it is only weak minds that label hardworking women like Bianca with nasty names such as ‘ashawo’.
“And it is more unfortunate when a woman, especially one that has been around the corridors of power, is the one hurling such baseless and regretful invectives against her fellow woman.
“What the world witnessed today at the swearing-in ceremony is utterly disgraceful, unfortunate, crude, and should never be emulated by the millions of our young girls and women who often look up to public figures concerning how they conduct themselves.
“Only a few days ago, an innocent woman was publicly paraded naked in the same community our former first lady hails from and one would have thought that rather than showcase this brute nature of fighting and engaging in public fisticuffs with her guest, she should have exerted same energy and fighting spirit in ensuring that justice is done for that widow.
“It saddens me a great deal to see the wife of an illustrious Anambra son, the pride of Ndigbo and an achiever that was once an ambassador of the Federal Republic, being attacked unprovoked and I join all right-thinking persons in praying that we never record this type of travesty again in our history.
Many Nigerians took to social media to condemn the altercation. Some of the posts to the tweets from anonymous sources include:
“Shame on them…see how Nigerians ‘re calling our women ashawo all over social media…
“Shameless bitch, a governor’s wife fighting like a market woman. What in the world did she do that u have to leave your seat to her seat to slap her, a whole Ikembas wife. Over to her husband.
“The woman even has the face of a bully”.
“Maybe Bianca said something about her horrible wig. Otherwise, they are fighting for a husband?”
“Mrs Obiano, this one na send off slap abi u think sey u still dey for power. Now do anyhow and receive anyhow, Rubbish.”
•Soludo’s position
Soludo and his sympathisers had a hell of a day, even though he managed to spell his economic and social blueprint to the people.
The 61-year-old former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Soludo had to pick up the pieces of the day of rage by apologising for the bitter fight.
He stated through his aide that the fight was a result of ‘personal issues between the two women.
A statement signed by Soludo’s head, Media, Joe Anatune, stated the apology, which was also tweeted yesterday, said, “Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo hereby apologises to all Anambra people, friends and guests who attended his inauguration this morning as the Anambra State governor for the breach of protocol.
“The breach was caused by improper communication which itself arose from a personal issue between the two parties involved in the breach,” the statement said.
It added that steps were being taken to resolve the misunderstanding and restore the parties to their previous relationship.
“Anambra State has over the years been known for a huge stock of social harmony, and the stock will increase substantially in the years ahead as part of the concerted effort to accelerate the state’s development.
“God bless Anambra State, the Light of the Nation,” the statement concluded.
However, celebration over, and six hours or so later, the new Anambra governor took his first assignment by announcing the appointment of three persons into his administration.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the statement containing the new appointments was released to newsmen by social media aide, Joe Anatune, in Awka.
The statement announced the appointment of Prof. Osita Chukwulobelu as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Dr Chukwudi Okoli as the Accountant-General, while Mr Chinedu Nwoye was appointed as Deputy Chief Of Staff/State Chief of Protocol.
