text: Fani-Kayode apologises to Bianca Ojukwu, two ex-girlfriends named in controversial essay | Premium Times Nigeria
  Fani-Kayode apologises to Bianca Ojukwu, two ex-girlfriends named in controversial essay
  The former minister has denied that his reference to "intimate relationship" implied "sexual relations".
  Controversial ex-minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, whose series of opinion articles on the Igbo ethnic nationality, have ignited intense criticism, said Thursday he regretted naming three of his former girlfriends-one of them Bianca Ojukwu, the wife of late Biafra warlord, Odumegwu Ojukwu-as evidence he was not anti-Igbo.
  Mr. Fani-Kayode said he "meant no harm" by mentioning Mrs. Ojukwu, Chioma Anasoh, Adaobi Uchegbu, as Igbo women he once had "long-standing and intimate" relationship with, and expressed "deepest regrets" in a statement issued Thursday."For the record, he has not seen Madame Chioma Anasoh, Adaobi Kate Uchegbu and Ambassador Bianca Onoh in many years and he admits that it was inappropriate for him to have mentioned their names in the essay, to use them as a point of reference in a public discussion or to make any references whatsoever to the nature of their past association," the statement, signed by a spokesperson, Bisi Lawal, said.
  "All references to them have been erased from the updated version of the essay," he said.
  One of Mr. Fani-Kayode's contentious essays, the third in a series of reactions to the controversial deportation of more than a dozen indigenes of Anambra state by the Lagos state government, sought to dispel a torrent of criticism he drew after previously serializing what he said were the "bitter truths" about the Igbo.
  When condemnation ensued, the former aviation minister stood his ground and dismissed allegations of tribalism as unfounded.
  "I was not a tribalist when I had a long-standing and intimate relationship with Miss Bianca Onoh, an Igbo lady, who many years later married Ojukwu and who is now our Ambassador in Spain," Mr. Fani-Kayode wrote.
  "I was not a tribalist when I had a long-standing and intimate relationship with Miss Chioma Anasoh, another Igbo lady, who I almost took as a second wife.
  "I was not a tribalist when I had a long-standing and intimate relationship with Miss Adaobi Uchegbu, another Igbo lady, who was exceptionally close to me and who is now at the National Headquarters of the ruling PDP."
  The revelation about the affairs, particularly the one regarding Mrs. Ojukwu who is the current Nigerian ambassador to Spain, stirred a brief media frenzy, as journalists reached out to the women for reaction.
  None of the three women has responded yet. Ms. Uchegbu, a staff at the Peoples Democratic Party national, did not react to our request for comment on the social media. She lists her current relationship status as "engaged".Mr. Fani-Kayode denied that his reference to "intimate relationship" implied "sexual relations" with any of the women, but insisted they were "associated with him".
  "He meant no harm by doing so and neither did he at any point make references to having had any sexual relations with any of these ladies when they were associated with him as is being suggested by some members of the public," he said.
  "He was simply trying to emphasize the fact that he has nothing against the Igbo people and that his friendship with these three ladies in particular over the years provided some evidence of that."
  The ex-minister said he had since reached two of the ladies concerned and conveyed his apology to them both and to their families for his "indiscretion".
  "He shall endeavour to reach the third lady to do the same in the next few days. Chief Fani-Kayode has nothing more to say on this matter and would prefer to remain focused on issues of national importance and not of a personal nature," the statement said.