Can the fisticuffs between Obiano and Ojukwu’s wives rub off on Soludo’s brand?
By Felicia Nwosu
An important component of a brand’s image is its personality. However, politicians’ and their parties’ personalities are the most unpredictable and volatile in the entire world. Though brand personalities of commercial and political brands may differ because of the unique and slippery nature of the political market, the damaging effects of a broken promise on consumers/ electorates are essentially the same.
After the November 6, 2021 Anambra State governorship election which Charles Chukwuma Soludo, a professor of economics and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), won convincingly, he has been vociferating his readiness to offer the people of the state a unique value proposition when he assumes office as governor.
Professor Soludo was sworn in yesterday as the sixth governor of Anambra State during a low-key ceremony. While the former Central Bank Governor was effectively taking over from Willie Obiano who spent two terms of eight years, an unthinkable conflict happened.
In addition to the endless drama that Nigerians continually witness within the circle of the ruling class, the swearing-in ceremony turned sour as wife of the former governor, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano made a spectacle of her husband’s office when she engaged Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, who graced the occasion, in a shouting match. In the twinkle of an eye, what seemed like a brickbat between the two women degenerated into fisticuffs.
Reliable sources and video evidence making rounds in the social media revealed a Mrs. Obiano who walked up to the widow of the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and apparently engaged her in a heated argument. The incident, which occurred immediately after Professor Soludo took his oath of office, saw guests scampering for safety as security operatives promptly sued for calm and order.
According to eyewitnesses, Mrs. Obiano’s aggressive behaviour and critical remarks towards Mrs. Ojukwu smacked of pent-up emotions which ought to have been put in check during such an official event.
Reacting to the unruly behavior by the former governor’s wife, the newly inaugurated Governor Soludo, in his speech said, “Those who also want to leave can as well do so. The Anambra we are talking about is a place of law and order.”
This infuriated the outgoing governor who immediately moved out of the venue with his wife.
However, Soludo has apologised to all Anambra people, friends, and guests who attended his inauguration for the momentary breach of protocol that happened during the event. In a statement, the Media Aide to Soludo, Joe Anatune, said the breach was caused by improper communication which arose from a personal issue between the two parties involved
“Sadly, the fight took the shine off the main event of the day,” the statement read in part.
Soludo said steps were being taken to resolve the misunderstanding and restore the parties to their previous relationship.
Also reacting to the unprintable invectives let out by the former First Lady, Senator Stella Odua who represents Anambra North senatorial district, referred to Mrs. Obiano’s brazen misconduct as “shameful and an unwarranted attack against the wife of an illustrious son and our very own Ikemba”.
“I wish to add that the act exhibited by the former first lady was indecorous and unbecoming of a woman who had acted as a mother of the state and even desirous of serving in other capacities.
“More condemnable is even the gutter and vulgar language used by Mrs. Obiano to describe her fellow woman, who is even a widow. I have always held the view that it is only weak minds that label hardworking women like Bianca with nasty names,” she said.
Senator Odua added the showdown was utterly disgraceful and unfortunate, while calling on all right thinking citizens to condemn such behaviour in strong terms.
However, the posers emanating from industry watchers are: “Will the fracas, which visibly sank into fisticuffs between the two notable Anambra women, rub off negatively on the brand Soludo that boasts so much expertise and gravitas? Are indigenes/ residents of Anambra State and Nigerians yet to witness more chaos, shouting matches and dogfights from the new government instead of the digital and transformational stewardship promised by Soludo? Time, and time alone, will tell.
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