Former firstlady of Anambra State, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, has shown interest in running for senatorial seat in the state.
Mrs. Obiano, was enmeshed in a public conflict with wife of late Odumegwu Ojukwu, Bianca, and was slapped during the inauguration and swearing in ceremony for Governor Charles Soludo by the the latter, said she was going to contest for the forthcoming Anambra North Senatorial District election.
Speaking with reporters, shortly after expressing her intention to run for the seat in Awka, the state capital, Ebelechukwu, who apologised to Soludo, Ndigbo and friends of Ndigbo, over the incident between her and Mrs Ojukwu in Awka, said: “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.
“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.”
According to the former first lady, she was willing, ready and has accepted the call by her people to come and serve them.
On the conflict between her and Bianca during Soludo’s inauguration ceremony, she said that she has put all of that behind her as a God-fearing person.
She added that she remained grateful to God that she resisted and overcame the temptation to retaliate the physical assault meted out on me by Mrs. Ojukwu,” saying : “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 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.”
Also, in a letter addressed to Governor Soludo titled “A Public Apology,” and sighted by Does2Leak, Mrs. Obiano stated that “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 collosal impacts in public policies in 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.
“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 excell 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, supports 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.”
