I didn’t disrepect Obi of Onitsha –Ngige

From EMMANUEL UZOR, Onitsha
The All Progressives Congress, (APC) governorship candidate for November 16 election in Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige has described as misleading, rumours that he stormed the commercial city of Onitsha with his party members to disrupt the Ofala festival of Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe.
Reacting to the news that he was cursed by the monarch for launching his governorship rally on the day mapped out for Ofala festival, Senator Ngige said he was not in any way trying to disrespect Igwe Achebe, whom he described as a role model to traditional institution in Igbo land and Nigeria in general.
Ngige said he received permission from the Palace of the Obi of Onitsha concerning the rally, adding that his Campaign Organisation even got permission to pay a courtesy call on Igwe Achebe before proceeding to the venue of the event.
He said what happened was that we received permission from the Palace, and the Palace Secretary even asked us to give him the protocol list of the governors and other dignitaries that will be coming, because we planned to pay a courtesy call on Obi of Onitsha.
“We were told at the middle of the rally because we could not pay a courtesy call on Obi of Onitsha, because our Director for Operation, Mr. Okonkwo Okom informed us on Tuesday morning that further communication will be after the Ofala some other time”
“There was never a time we came to disrupt the Ofala festival and we never intended to disrespect the revered traditional ruler of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe and Onitsha culture and tradition, as we hold him in high esteem just like we do to other traditional rulers in Igbo land. There was a communication gap and if that resulted in any embarrassment to the Igwe, our party, APC and myself apologise for that” he said.
He also called the Monarch to disregard all political gimmicks from opposition aimed at bringing un-existing crisis between him, APC and the Onitsha traditional institution and urged his supporters to remain calm as everything is under control.