By Kamsi Anayo
Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, has denied reports that he had altercation with former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo over the Second Niger Bridge.
The traditional ruler was reacting to a State House Press statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President Garba Shehu (Media and Publicity) titled MORALLY SQUALID OBASANJO ATTACKS LEADERS OUT OF FRUSTRATION.
In a counter statement signed by his Chief of Staff, Chief Osita Anionwu, the Onitsha monarch noted that he never involved in any sod turning ceremony for the Second Niger Bridge during the first tenure of Obasanjo as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“And therefore, could not have engaged in any altercation with the then President as stated in the State House Press statement.
“The only involvement of His Majesty with President Obasanjo regarding the Second River Niger Bridge was at the very end of his second term as President during a low-keyed flag-off ceremony of the project when His Majesty prayed that the succeeding administration would construct the bridge expeditiously.
The statement noted that “His Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe, Obi of Onitsha by his position as a traditional and natural ruler, should normally not engage publicly in high level discourse in affairs of state between two of our highly respected nation leaders President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR.
“However, the palace deems it absolutely necessary to ensure that public statements relating to our Monarch are factually correct.
“This is soley a statement of facts and nothing more or less.
“Onitsha people will continue to express their utmost gratitude to President Buhari and his Government for successfully constructing the magnificent bridge.”
