A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has demanded a public apology from the Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, over an alleged manhandling of a woman, Lois Iorvihi, and her siblings, Joi and Jerry, on their way from Makurdi to Abuja.

Some members of Al-Makura’s convoy were alleged to have beaten up Lois and her brothers for allegedly obstructing the governor’s convoy on Saturday.

Al-Makura’s Chief Press Secretary, Tukur Ahmed, however, denied the report that Lois was brutalised.

Ezekwesili, in a series of tweets on her official Twitter handle, said that Al-Makura’s statement on the issue “was embarrassing.”

The former minister said the alleged assault was unbecoming of an All Progressives Congress governor.

She said, “Come on, Governor Al-Makura. I have taken time to study all the information in the public space on that provocative saga. You owe Lois a big apology. That one is elected into public office by the citizens must be a basis for sobriety in the use of power. Governor Al-Makura, you failed a citizen.”

A statement by Al-Makura’s spokesperson read, “For the avoidance of doubt and to set the records straight, on Thursday 10, September 2015 about 3pm when the convoy of His Excellency was approaching Nasarawa-Eggon Local Government Area, a vehicle was right in the middle of the road and in spite of several efforts by the police outrider and the pilot to slow the car down, the vehicle remained right in the centre of the road, refusing to make way for the convoy which nearly caused an accident.

“As she (Lois) came out, she began to rain abuses on the police, boasting that she is a lawyer and the daughter of a police commissioner and has the right to drive the way she wants.

“Noticing her unruly behaviour, the governor directed the escort commander to invite the police from the nearest police station to handle the matter to avoid further congestion and obstruction of traffic on the highway while the convoy continued on its journey to Abuja.”