Former Imo state governor, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, has described as false, stories making the rounds in a section of the media, that he called the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi as a saboteur.
Ihedioha, a former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, also denied saying that supporters of Obi, a former governor of Anambra state as saboteurs-.
He said that his speech while he was in Ghana for the New Yam festival of Igbo community in that country was directed at some members of his own party, the Peoples Democratic Party who he said we’re causing internal disaffection few months to a crucial general election.
The former governor stated these Wednesday night, in a statement signed by his media aide, Chibuike Onyeukwu and sent to NationWide.
Ihedioha said he and Peter Obi have been long time friends and political allies, adding that it would be unthinkable that he would use abusive words to address the Labour Party candidate, no matter the parties they belong
Few days ago, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha CON, on the invitation of his kinsmen, was in Accra, Ghana to celebrate this year’s Iri Ji festival with the Mbaise community in that country.
As a founding member and one of the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, he seized the opportunity of that visit to address PDP issues nationally but particularly in Imo State and assuage the anxiety of the members his party who have been apprehensive of the developments within the party.
In doing so, he decried what at best is the insouciant attitude and worse, the outright sabotage of some acclaimed party leaders who are engaging in acts that are inimical to the success of the PDP, especially in the Southeast by working in cahoots with the other parties. He was only talking about members of his own political party.
For clarity purposes, His Excellency, neither referred to members of any other political party, especially the Labour Party as saboteurs. He only spoke in the context of the PDP and the emphasis was on the need for members of his party to remain consistent and committed.
It is inconceivable that he will refer to anybody who is supporting Mr. Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, his long time friend, with whom he shares close political affinity and has utmost respect for, as a saboteur.
It is unfortunate that his well-intentioned speech which addressed the specific issue of happenings within his own political party was, again, manipulated by fifth columnists to suit their mischievous scheme of bringing him on a collision with Mr. Peter Obi, whose unwavering political philosophy of “Taking Back Nigeria” from the draconian stranglehold of the failed ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, he wholeheartedly shares.
His Excellency respects the aspirations and passion of members of other political parties, even as he remains committed to the cause of his own political party and it is not in his character to cast aspersions on those who hold contrary political opinion.
Chibuike Onyeukwu
Media Aide
His Excellency Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha CON