More facts have emerged on the controversies surrounding what is now known as “farewell slap” which occurred at the inauguration of Prof Chukwuma Soludo as the governor of Anambra, on Thursday, March 17.
The began when when Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, wife of Biafra Warlord Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, slapped the wife of outgoing Gov. Willie Obiano, Ebelechukwu, at the event.
Though there were contradictory reports as many media houses initially said it was Ebelechukwu Obiano that slapped Bianca, details of the incident have emerged indicating that it was Bianca that slapped Obiano’s wife following provocative statements made by the ex Anambra first lady against Bianca.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who was at the scene of the event reports that the incident occurred immediately after Soludo took his oath of office.
Sources said that Ebelechukwu Obiano who is contesting Senatorial election had gone for one ofher political meetings which made her to arrive the venue of the inauguration late.
When she arrived she walked up to where Bianca was seating and started touching her on her shoulders, allegedly mocking her for attending the inauguration after she (Bianca) had said she would no longer attend any event organized by All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). This was due to the misunderstanding she had with the party when she expressed interest in contesting Senatorial election but did not get the ticket. Sources said she had expressed anger over the development and allegedly said she would not attend any event organized by the party again.
When Obiano’s wife saw her at the event she began to ask her what she was doing at the event and this angered Bianca who slapped the former governor’s wife. Before Ebele Obiano could retaliate the dignitaries at the event separated the two women and prevented further show of shame which took the shine off the inauguration exercise.
Reports had it that that dignitaries including Ex-Gov Obiano were already seated when Mrs Obiano stepped in and moved to the front row where the widow of Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu was seated and engaged her in altercations leading to the controversial slap.