By Raymond Ozoji, Awka
Indigenes of Onitsha in Anambra State have opposed what they described as fake news publications in the online media claiming an imaginary rift between Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe.
Some sections of the online news media last weekend claimed that Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo's rift with Igwe Achebe had become messier following his absence from Igwe Achebe's annual Ofala festival and that the governor at some point declared the Anambra State Traditional Rulers' Council under Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe illegal but upon further investigations, HEADLINE NEWS gathered from the President General of Onitsha Town Union and some other indigenes that such reports were figments of the authors' imaginations.
Speaking exclusively with HEADLINE NEWS on the purported rift between Soludo and Igwe Achebe, the Commissioner for Special Duties Rt. Hon. Barr. Beverly Nkemdiche Ikpeazu said it is not true that the governor and the Obi of Onitsha were at loggerheads.
Ikpeazu who represented Onitsha-South 2 state constituency for 12 years in the Anambra Legislature also disclosed that even as an indigene of Onitsha, she didn't attend the Ofala festival this year due to unforseen contingencies which precluded her from being physically present on the Ofala day.
She equally disclosed that the governor's absence from Igwe Achebe's annual Ofala festival was not deliberate neither was it as a result of any squabbles between them but because the governor was away in Abuja on an official engagement.
She however advised the media to always endeavour to investigate properly and report the truth not dwelling in fallacious and speculative publications which she described as defamation of character.
Also the Special Adviser to Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo on Political Matters Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, who is an indigene of Onitsha too, corroborated what Ikpeazu said, stating categorically that there is no rift or quarrel whatsoever between Governor Soludo and Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe.
Obiogbolu said the governor travelled to Abuja for some official engagements.When confronted with the question of whether the governor sent a representative to the Ofala festival, he said he doesn't know; that is, if an invitation was extended to the governor.
Furthermore, the Commissioner for Youths Mr. Patrick Aghadinuno Mba, who also hails from Onitsha, said there is no quarrel between Igwe Achebe and Governor Soludo. That the duo are best of pals.
Although the Mayor of Onitsha-North Local Government Area Chief Anthony Nworah didn't respond to the SMS sent to him by this journalist concerning the purported rift between Soludo and Igwe Achebe, the President-General of Onitsha Chief Chike Ekweogu maintained that there is absolutely no rift between Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe.
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