Ihedioha has apologized to the Igbos over his ‘saboteur’ comment

Former Governor of Imo state, Emeka Ihedioha has apologized to the Igbos over his ‘saboteur’ comment which has generated lots of controversy. 

While speaking at the 2022 New Yam festival ceremony of the Mbaise People living in Ghana, Ihedioha had said that any of his kinsmen and supporters who vote for another party other than the Peoples Democratic Party, is a saboteur.

He said; 

‘Nigeria is in search for leadership; we cannot stay away; I understand the ethics, It is either we get involved or we are not involved. There are two parties; the PDP and APC. Those who don’t know should know. APC is the name of criminals, rogues among other names. If you vote any other place, you are a saboteur.

‘After Atiku Abubakar the next president will come from South East of Nigeria. That is the gospel in Accra (Ghana) if you somebody tells you any another thing; that person must win in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Kwara, Plateau Benue, Jigawa, and among other Northern states before you can be a president of Nigeria. Emotions and sentiment don’t win elections; you must be realistic to win elections. You must plan to win elections and that is where I belong.’

 

However appearing on a Channels Television program today September 30, Ihedioha said his speech in Ghana was misconstrued and blown out of proportion.

The former Governor said; 

“So when you talk about the future of our country, you see people who are worried about being deceived into believing that you just wished it happened. So the desire for me for a PDP administration that has internal mechanisms of good governance cannot be overemphasized. So I spoke to our people consciously within the PDP to express the need for them not to sabotage our efforts in reclaiming power in 2023 so that Nigerians can see good governance.

“I never called any South Easterner or indeed any Nigerian who doesn’t vote for my party a saboteur. That is not me. It is not in my character. I believe in decent even from my own immediate nuclear family.”