By Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has said it is too early to wade into the feud between Ebele Obiano, the wife of immediate past Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano; and Bianca Ojukwu, widow of the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, stated this while speaking to newsmen at the weekend.
Ogbonnia said it was inappropriate at the moment to invite Ebele to a meeting with Bianca, because the former was facing another ordeal with the arrest of her husband by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).
Bianca and Ebele had clashed at the inauguration of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo as the governor of Anambra State last Thursday.
Bianca reportedly slapped Ebele, and the two had held on to each other before the dignitaries at the event, including Obiano; former Governor Peter Obi; and National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Victor Oye, separated them.
On whether Ohanaeze has plans to reconcile Ebele and Bianca, Ogbonnia said: “On the reconciliation of Ebele Obiano and Bianca Ojukwu, I want to believe that with time that matter will be over. Two people will always quarrel and they will reconcile. It is hoped that time will heal whatever wound that they have inflicted on themselves.”
“It is not expected to be a prolonged quarrel. So, by the grace of God it will end like that but if we discover that it continues, for example now, if after today, Mrs Obiano begins to make some comments or Bianca begins to make some comments, that is when it becomes so obvious that the matter is still lingering.
“By next week, they should be sympathetic to each other. It is only when there is a lingering crisis that there is a need for reconciliation,” he added.
The Ohanaeze spokesperson said the fight between Bianca and Ebele does not represent the Igbo people and should not affect their bid for a stint at the presidency.
“Any person who uses that incident between Bianca Ojukwu and Ebelechukwu Obiano to join the Igbo is not being fair. We have to be sensitive. It is very unfortunate that one would use what happened between two women to judge the Igbo, especially in relation to 2023,” he stressed.
