PBA ReporterFormer Governor of Imo State, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has tendered an apology over comments he made in Ghana concerning supporters of Labour Party in Southeast.
He specifically apologised over his use of the word “saboteur”, saying his intention was misunderstood and taken out of context.
The former governor was speaking in reaction to a viral video which alleged that he described the supporters of Mr. Peter Obi, Presidential candidate of the Labour Party and the Igbos of the Southeast as saboteurs when he attended new yam festival of his Mba Ise people in Accra, Ghana.
While appearing as guest on Channels Television Sunrise Daily on Friday morning, Ihedioha explained that while addressing a gathering of his kinsmen, who are predominantly his party members in Accra, Ghana, he was not referring to the supporters of the presidential candidate or the Igbo but to his kinsmen who are predominantly members of the PDP, while harping on the need for the party to reclaim power in the coming election.
He said it has never been in his character to be rude, even as he reiterates his respect for peoples choices and opinion, adding that his well intentioned address was misconstrued and blown out of proportion.
His words,, “the huge expectation is borne out of abaundant love and expectations. That I said any South-Easterner (Igbo Man at that or indeed Nigerians) who does not vote for my party are saboteur? That cannot be. That is far from the truth. It is obvious that is not me. It is not in my character. I believe in decency. So that cannot be.”
“My position was very simple, I was speaking to our people, I am an Mbaise man. PDP has been faithful to us, they have given us the opportunity to produce a Governor and I said to them, we have an oppotunity and i said to them, dont sabotage our efforts to claim power and that was it. That was the context and if you read or listen through, persons who have made calls to my family members, friends and associates have not had the opportunity to watch the clip. If you do watch it, you will find out that the context is being blown out of proportion,” Ihedioha insisted.
Sensing the negative feelings his comment has generated within the region, he said, “however, I am responsible to people. When people show you love, confidence and indeed believe in you, you need to respect their feelings. So to the millions of Nigerians, particularly the Southeast extraction who feel hurt by my use of language, I am deeply sorry. I do not mean to hurt anybody. You all have the right to express your political opinion in anyway.”
While speaking on the Obedient Movement, especially in the Southeast and its impact on the PDP ahead of the election, the former deputy speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, said, “Mr. Peter Obi is a politician that has earned his place. He is a man I respect and have good relationship with. I know he has a growing support base. But we are going to a general election that is scheduled for February 2023 and you need a lot of time to penetrate. Now for us in the PDP, when you look at the leadership of our party in the Southeast, we were with Mr. Peter Obi before he left. You will notice that our numbers have not reduced by any means and we are going to approach the campaigns and elections.
“All I urge everyone is, let us be very cautious, the real danger is any opportunity to the APC. And so we should not inflict damage on ourselves while we put our eyes on the ball.”
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