Former Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, has denied report that he granted an interview with some journalists, where he disparaged the aspiration of the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, noting it as baseless and fake news.

In a statement issued, yesterday, by Ihedioha’s Media aide, Chibuike Onyeukwu, the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, attributed the report as the handiwork of some political opponents.

The statement said: “This is one of the many orchestrated efforts by political opponents of Ihedioha and their collaborators, who are afraid of squaring up against him in the coming elections.

“It is noteworthy that Ihedioha did not grant any interview in Abuja or elsewhere as claimed.

“He is known to acquit himself in the most civil, decent and respectful manner and, therefore, could not have employed such uncouth words.

Meanwhile, a group, Concerned Imo Professional (CIP), has urged Governor Hope Uzodimma to advise his agents to desist from blackmailing Ihedioha with what it described as “unverified and mischievous media reports.”

Speaking to newsmen in Owerri, yesterday, the leader of the group, Prof. Obioma Iheduru, said the report credited to Ihedioha discrediting the presidential ambition of Obi was a calculated attempt by Uzodimma media propagandists to smear Ihedioha’s character and a “desperate ploy to cover their shame and failures.”

Iheduru further stated that the report was also meant to distract attention of the public from failures of Uzodimma’s government, while urging Imo citizens “to resist any effort to drag Obi into the issues of bad governance in Imo, which has resulted in wanton killings, kidnapping, mindless looting of the state treasury, lack of payment of salaries and pensions, collapse of local council system and infrastructure in the state.” (The Guardian)

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