A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha has denied calling supporters of Labour Party (LP)’s Peter Obi saboteurs.
The comment he made at a new yam festival by an Igbo community in Accra, Ghana where he allegedly claimed Obi’s supporters are saboteurs had attracted criticism.
But speaking on Friday, the former Imo State governor said he is friends with the Anambra-born politician and as such could not have made the remark.
“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.
“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.”
He faulted those criticising his comment, saying they do not understand the context in which the remark was made.
“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.”