By Adetunji Ayo-Brown
Come quickly, I am tasting the stars. That was what Don Perry said when he invented champagne. But to Mrs Obiano, come quickly for I am tasting kicks while seeing too many strange stars coming from Mrs Ojukwu fiasco.
Physical fights between man and woman may seems not fair. But between two female gender many say is more than fair. Especially, if every other statistic of the actresses involved are considered to be equal by sizes and in might. And if you’re in doubt of this statement, ask Mr Obiano.
While history of man is defined by wars, and wars by men who fought it, but what then defines the other gender’s rivalries, brawls and scuffles. Like cowgirls blazing new trails in the world of professional rodeo, with too many evidences in video.
The fact, the truth and the news. Triggered many more reactions especially on social media, the drama at the inauguration of Governor Charles Soludo last week where the Former First Lady of Anambra State, Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano and Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, had a real life scuffles, a serious face-off many would not forget quickly in many years to come.
Speaking of which, the then Conference where Dikko was trailed to the toilet and got a dirty slap. Still fresh in many memories of how late Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu once slapped Umaru Dikko, during Sani Abacha Constitutional Conference in 1995. While the widow of the late Ikemba Nnewi opened up on the encounter between her and the former first lady of Anambra State.
Perhaps, he was dazed to his marrows, the former governor, Chief Willie Obiano who sat through the entire episode completely speechless many asking if he ever had any premonition or fore knowledge of such brewing brawl between the duo. While Mrs Obiano was alleged to be intoxicated, due to the stench of whisky in her breath at such an early hour of the day.
Soludo’s inauguration slap is now what many tagged and concluded that Bianca did what Ojukwu taught her in 1995. Saying she had taken many proper and adequate ‘slapping lessons’ from her late husband, if Reno Omokri’s suggestion is anything to go by.
But truly, actions and reactions are no more equal but surely always in the opposite. Bianca’s story in her own words as narrated in her own writings and punctuations, excruciatingly stated her own side of this true life inauguration mixed with slapping, punching and boxing melodramatic.
“As the inaugural ceremonies for Prof Charles Soludo and his deputy began and all guests were seated, the Former First Lady of Anambra State, Mrs Ebele Obiano, was noticeably absent. She then arrived some one-and-a-half hours later while the ceremony was on. I didn’t pay any particular attention to her arrival”.
“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.
Like someone caught in web of fight. “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.
But like a woman with no too many good options, “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 on to her wig with her two hands and tried to take the wig away from me.
With no signs of slowing down. “The former APGA chairman, Umeh (Chief Victor Umeh), told her to leave me and told engaged 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 9 am?
“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.
Her calibrated response. “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.”
While some believe the best way to die is to die fighting, to others it is best done while hanging on. Still trending, the video footage shows the Ojukwu’s widow slapping the ex-Governor’s wife, Ebelechukwu, both engaged in a such physical combat during such important event says more than a lot. The action that drew the attention of security agents and some personalities who pulled Mrs Obiano off the hold of Bianca who was visibly shocked at the action.
Many concluded that someone’s joyous mood modes were wrongly overloaded with no supervisions. How could a former first lady be so drunk and proceeded to turn up late at that state’s inauguration ceremony that began at 9am, or because she was of no importance there but just a distraction, many were quick to come to her defense.
But like an unpleasant of all unpleasant fights. Though, Governor Soludo later apologised to the people of Anambra and guests who attended the ceremony, attributing it to misunderstanding between the duo.
But what are the true sizes of the champagne stars? Truly and behold, actions and reactions are no more equal these days but they are always in each other’s opposite. Icy experience must come with its terrible price, because no mercy in a gun fight…even blues would see red.
And that, free and uncontrolled champagne is truly a recipe for disaster, drink but don’t be drunk was the message. The Bianca’s side of the story.
*Ayo-Brown is a Snr System Analyst, he can be reached via e-Mail:[email protected]
