A former Governor of Imo state, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has denied calling the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, or his supporters, saboteurs.
There were reports of the former Governor being quoted as saying anybody who votes for Obi instead of the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, was a saboteur, during this year’s Iri Ji festival with the Mbaise community.
The statement attributed to the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives has drawn the ire of Imo residents.
However, Ihedioha denied ever referring to Obi as a saboteur, saying Obi was his long-time friend with whom he shared close political affinity.
In a statement today from his media office, the former Governor said: “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 of 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.”