Emeka Ihedioha, a former House of Representatives deputy speaker, refuted accusations that Peter Obi’s followers were saboteurs.
He came under fire over a remark he allegedly made during an Igbo community’s new yam ceremony in Accra, Ghana, in which he allegedly called Obi’s supporters saboteurs.
However, the former governor of Imo State claimed in a statement on Friday that because he is friends with the Anambra-born politician, he was unable to make the comment.
“That cannot be me. It is far from the truth and not in my character. I believe even in dissent from within my immediate nuclear family,” Ihedioha said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
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“My position was very simple. I was speaking to our people – I am an Mbaise man – and the PDP has been faithful to us and has given us support; the opportunity to produce a governor in our state. I said to them, we have an opportunity and I called that they should not sabotage our efforts to reclaim power. That was it and the context.”
“If you do watch the tape, you will find the context,” Ihedioha added. “It is certainly blown out of proportion.”
The PDP chieftain, however, apologised to those who may have been hurt by his statement, maintaining that he respects people’s choices, especially in politics.
“So, to all those – millions of Nigerians particularly of southeast extraction – who are hurt by my use of language, I am deeply sorry about it,” he said.
“I do not mean to hurt anybody and they have a right to express their political opinions in any way, form, or shape. I have lots of my friends who belong to other political parties and we still relate.”
