By Charles Kumolu

ABUJA— MINISTER of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, has relieved her Senior Special Assistant Media, Mazi Obi Adindu, of his duties, just as she sent her Media Assistant, Mr. Julius Ogunro, on suspension over what she described as unauthorised response to Prof Chukwuma Soludo.

She also noted that his media aides issued the press statement while she was away on an official trip to China, saying she could not have spoken in the manner the statement about Soludo was couched, no matter the level of provocation.

Akunyili, who said this in a press statement, noted that the mild family misunderstanding with Soludo should not warrant the excessive language and substance of Mazi Adindu’s response.

According to her, “I have just returned from an official trip to China and my attention was drawn to an unauthorized write–up by Mazi Obi Adindu, my Senior Special Assistant, Media, purported to be a response to some earlier defamatory statement by Professor Charles Soludo.

“I feel very embarrassed and saddened by this release issued by my SSA without permission from me. The release is too demeaning and I can’t talk about anybody in that manner no matter the level of provocation.”