Ebele Obiano: Between Vaccination Education and Malice 


Our attention has been drawn to a publication in the Punch newspapers titled "ICYMI: Mixed Metaphors: Anambra's Ebele Obiano," by Solana Olumhense which queried the propriety and eligibility of the wife of Governor of Anambra State, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano to take the Coronavirus vaccine in the United States of America and dare to record and broadcast same. 

The rebuttal is not to join issues with Solana Olumhense.  Being a columnist confers further responsibility on him to ensure that he gets his facts right. As it concerns Mrs. Obiano, Mr. Olumhense made certain assumptions leading to some wrong conclusions. 

Right from his opening salvo, it is obvious that Olumhense was persuaded by the notion that all public officials and those associated with them engage in some form of illegality, hence the tendency to tar all with one brush. But the COVID-19 vaccine video by Mrs. Obiano was made with the best of intentions and for mere health education purposes. This is apparent in the eyes of a dispassionate critic. 

It must be stated in clear terms that Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano though wife of current Governor of Anambra State, is a legal resident of United States of America and therefore is entitled to all rights and privileges due to residents. Implying that she may have obtained the vaccine under cover and likely infringed on the laws is preposterous. 

Again, Olumhense pretends that only age is a criterion for getting the vaccine and ignores considerations for the health status of the individual or is he also in possession of private details of everyone’s health in the United States including Mrs Obiano? We also do not wish to stress on the attempt to call-out the daughter who was mentioned in the video, but suffice to add that she did not engage in any untoward act to see to the welfare of her dear mother.   

It is therefore important to note that Mrs. Obiano didn’t just jet out on medical tourism, and also did not “appropriate public resources,” as alleged.    

She contributes immensely to the development of the state through her charity-based organization, Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ) which has to date, built and furnished 28 bungalows for indigent widows, 22 modern toilets to promote hygiene in rural markets, sponsored free corrective surgeries for over 100 children with cleft lip disorders; trained and empowered over 5,500 women and youths on various skills, as well as rehabilitated over 100 mentally challenged persons. Most of these can be attested to by ndi Anambra who also support her charity with donations to actualize the projects. 

Perhaps the medium got some of the flaks for the delivery of the message, but certainly not the message which was borne of good intentions. This is a call for restraint less we give credence to the mob of the social media and out of malice throw the baby away with the bath water.  

Emeka Ozumba 
Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

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