Awka Monarch: Ebelechukwu Obiano Has Desecrated Kingdom By Fighting Bianca, Says Serious Consequences Loom

* Bianca ‘stunned by the stench of whisky on Obiano’s wife’s breath’
Bennett Oghifo in Lagos and David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

The Obi of Awka Ancient Kingdom, Eze Uzu III of Awka, Austin Ndigwe yesterday declared that Ebelechukwu, wife of former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano had desecrated Awka by fighting Bianca, widow of late Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu and that the Gods of the Kingdom must be appeased.
Also yesterday, Bianca issued a statement about the fight, alleging that Ebelechukwu was drunk when she attacked her.

A fight that broke out last Thursday between the two women during the inauguration of Professor Charles Soludo as Governor resulted in Bianca slapping Ebelechukwu.
Eze Ndigwe also ordered Ebelechukwu to apologise to Bianca within seven days to avoid consequences.
The Obi of Awka, in his press release, said he had given Ebelechukwu seven days to publicly apologise to the entire Igbo people or face serious consequences.

He said the action of the wife of the former governor was sacrilegious, and that as the monarch of the town, he would have to appease the gods of Awka land to avoid calamities.
The monarch said: “She should also tender an unreserved apology to the new Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo for her disgraceful conduct during his inauguration. The same should go for the chief judge of the state who was conducting the swearing in when she descended.

“This grave sin was committed in the land of Awka which is known for peace and unity. Therefore, as the traditional ruler of the people and chief custodian of our culture, I am under obligation to perform some sacrifices to cleanse our land of this filth and pollution and to appease the gods.”

The Obi of Awka said he had long spoken to Bianca who told him that what angered her was that Mrs. Obiano walked up to her and called her unprintable names, including querying her presence at the swearing in ceremony.
He added that a study of the scenario showed that Mrs. Obiano’s action was deliberate, as she came very much prepared to disrupt the swearing in ceremony.

Ndigwe added that Mrs. Obiano’s action was not only against Mrs. Ojukwu, but also against the late Ojukwu, who is the founder of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), whom his widow came to represent.
“It must be pointed out that Bianca was not at that ceremony as Bianca, but as a direct representative of our late father and leader, Chief Odumegwu-Ojukwu, her late husband who pioneered APGA.

“Therefore, Ebele’s action of casting aspersions on her is an affront on the entire Igbo people. It was indeed on Odumegwu-Ojukwu and not on Bianca as a person. This is an insult on Igbo and it must not go unpunished.
“It is on record that I took Obiano and his wife, Ebere to Bianca Ojukwu where they knelt down while seeking the party’s governorship ticket. Bianca endorsed Obiano and called on all APGA members, including then Governor Obi to support him. Mrs. Obiano has only seven days to apologise as demanded and directed or face serious consequences.”

Bianca ‘Stunned By the Stench of Whisky on Obiano’s Wife’s Breath’

Bianca issued a statement yesterday, stating that all guests were seated when Ebelechukwu arrived some one-and-a-half hours later while the inauguration ceremony was on and that she didn’t pay any particular attention to her.

The former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain and the Vatican continued: Surprisingly, she then walked towards me and I thought she was coming to greet me. Instead, when she got to where I was seated, she verbally attacked me with her voice raised, taunting me and asking me what I was there to do and using unprintable vile language. She asked if I had come to celebrate their last day in office. But I ignored her completely. Then, she kept aggressively putting her hands on my shoulders and shouting.

“While I ignored her verbal onslaught, as advised by those sitting around me, I requested twice that she refrained from touching me with her hands. She proceeded to do so yet again and went further to grab at my head tie, which she attempted unsuccessfully to remove. This very act is considered a sacrilege to a titled matriarch such as myself in Igbo culture. It was at this point that I stood up to defend myself and gave her a dirty slap to stop her from attacking me. As she made towards me, I then pulled away her wig.

“She held onto her wig with her two hands and tried to take the wig away from me.
“The former APGA chairman, Chief Umeh, told her to leave me and told enraged APGA members that had gathered at the spot to lead her away, which they did and took her to the seat next to her husband Chief Willie Obiano who sat through the entire episode, completely speechless. What struck me through the whole episode was the fact that she was clearly intoxicated.

“I was stunned by the stench of whisky in her breath at such an early hour of the day. How could a first lady be so drunk and proceeded to turn up in that state at an Inauguration ceremony that began at 9am? It is unfortunate that she threw all caution to the wind and imported this kind of melodrama to a state ceremony.
“This was highly embarrassing to the governor who left the venue almost immediately, taking her along with him. Luckily, this did not disrupt the proceedings and I stayed back to witness the ceremony to the end after which we were treated to a sumptuous reception at the Government House.”