Celebrated Columnist Sonala Olumhense has dismissed claims in Anambra State government circles that he has apologised to Mrs. Ebele Obiano, wife of the State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, over his recent syndicated column on how she and her husband misappropriated COVID-19 vaccines meant for sick people in the USA.

Days after the column was published last weekend, news started making the rounds in Anambra government circles that Olumhense had apologised in the following words: “Following the mixed reactions trailing my piece entitled ‘Mixed metaphors: Anambra’s Ebele Obiano’, I hereby wish to publicly tender my unreserved apology to the Firstlady. Lately, I have perused the US healthcare policy, and discovered that the Firstlady of Anambra is emminetly qualified to be administered the Covid-19 vaccine, contrary to my earlier report. I sincerely apologize for any inconveniences the story might have caused the Firstlady. – Soala Olumhensee”.

Those peddling the tale on social media even went ahead to claim that the veteran journalist was sponsored to write the column by an unnamed Anambra politician.

Mr. Olumhense, however, rubbished the purported apology when News Express sought his reaction. His response:

“Shameful! Sponsorship my left leg.

“There isn’t enough money in Anambra State, or in the country, to purchase my advocacy let alone my apology. Abeg make the sponsors of the apology go collect dem change o; Ebele was a teenager when I began to write for the press.”

Chido Nwakanma, a close friend of Mr. Olumhense, also exressed outrage over the fabricated apology He said: “To underscore the idiocy of the falsehood, the fellow could not even spell Sonala’s name correctly. How could Sonala supposedly write an apology and misspell his own name? Sad that this is the level of reasoning that surrounds our government officials.”