The wife of former Governor of Anambra State, Ebelechukwu Obiano has formally tendered an apology to the newly sworn-in Governor of the state, Charles Soludo.
Ebelechukwu’s apology is over the slapping incident involving her and Bianca, wife of the late Biafran warlord, Chukwuemeka Odemegwu Ojukwu at Soludo’s inauguration at the State House, Awka last Thursday.
As seen in viral videos from the event, the former First Lady had walked majestically from her seat to where Bianca was seated where she was seen speaking some words that obviously got Bianca angry.
Bianca had in a reaction got up from her seat and slapped Ebelechukwu.
The shocked former First Lady wanted to react but was pulled away from Bianca.
In a statement, Ebelechukwu, while tendering an apology to Soludo and other dignitaries present, said there was no justification for the public embarrassment that happened on the day.
“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.
“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,” she was quoted by Punch as saying.
Meanwhile, a group, Justice and Accountability For All, has asked Bianca to tender an apology for her display during the altercation she had with Ebele.
The group, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator and Secretary, Mr John Ifeanyi and Camela Jude, in Abuja on Wednesday, described Ojukwu’s action as despicable and disrespectful to Ndigbo and the friends of Ndigbo.
The statement read, “The wife of Ikemba should be virtuous; she should possess the highest mentality of a mother of Ndigbo nation, a role model to young and old; she should be the worthiest example of womanhood, commanding respect, honour and dignity in private and public places, something larger than life image of her husband, the legend. But no, not Bianca.
“Why should a wife of the great Ikemba be so proud of her despicable action when she disrespected Ndigbo and friends of Ndigbo to the point of celebrating the incident on a live TV interview? No. Something must be definitely wrong.
“If Bianca has any modicum of decorum and decency at all, she should come out openly and apologize to former Governors of Anambra State, Osodieme, Soludo, Anambra and Nigeria. Bianca’s action is a moral tragedy. We condemn it and ask that elders of Ndigbo should call her to order.”