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The caretaker Regional Minster for the Eastern Region, Victor Smith has appealed to persons who have criticized Okyehene�s appeal to President John Mahama to accept the Supreme Court�s ruling on the New Patriotic Party�s (NPP) election petition to �control themselves and refrain from engaging in public discussion of what clearly was a misunderstanding of what actually happened.� In a statement issued on the visit, the "caretaker" Regional Minister also rendered an unqualified apology "on behalf of the Party in the Region to the Regional House of Chiefs, and Okyehene in particular, who was cited in person in the altercations on the airwaves in rather disparaging language." Below is the full press release:- VISIT OF EASTERN REGIONAL HOUSE OF CHIEFS TO THE PRESIDENCY ON 12TH FEBRUARY 2013 In the aftermath of the visit of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs to Flagstaff House on 12th February 2013, verbal attacks mis-representations, allegations and counter-allegations have filled the airwaves and the media, beginning with a press release that was issued by the Eastern Regional NDC Secretariat, and spoken about at length by the Regional Organizer and others. Some of the altercations, regrettably, have sought to castigate not only the Okyehene Osagyefo Amotia who led the House of Chiefs as its President to the Presidency, but indeed, the whole House made up of eminent chiefs of the Eastern Region. As Regional Minister, I wish to first of all appeal to all factions to control themselves and refrain from engaging in public discussion of what clearly was a misunderstanding of what actually happened during the visit to the President by the chiefs. The Press Release by the Party�s Regional Executives unfortunately was based on an erroneous belief that I, as Regional Minister, had taken the Regional House of Chiefs to the Presidency for them to request His Excellency to retain me as Regional Minister in the Region. Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is that, the Presidency had drawn up a schedule for all ten (10) Regional House of Chiefs to visit with the President. This was done to accommodate requests by individual chiefs requesting on their own to pay courtesy calls on the President on his assumption into office. My presence at the Flagstaff House as Regional Minister and the President�s representative was, as part of my job, to brief His Excellency about potential areas of discussion ahead of the courtesy call by Nananom. I didn�t instigate that visit; I wasn�t leading the delegation and indeed, I was not part of the delegation. I was there as His Excellency�s representative in the Region during the courtesy call. What the Okyehene told the President on the day was not discussed with me ahead of that meeting. I wish therefore to use this platform to set the records straight and to apologize profusely on behalf of the Party in the Region to the Regional House of Chiefs, and Okyehene in particular, who was cited in person in the altercations on the airwaves in rather disparaging language. Signed: