By Daniel Kanu
The former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, has cautioned his teeming supporters in Imo State against the use of hate speech.
Ihedioha who is poised to contest the 2019 governorship election in the state on the platform of the PDP, gave the advice after the just concluded party congresses in the state to elect delegates. His camp triumphed in 25 out of the 27 local governments in Imo.
A statement by his media aide, Mr. Chibuike Onyeukwu, on Friday said the consummate lawmaker who represented Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency for 12 years in the House of Representatives congratulated PDP and its members for the peaceful and successful congresses.
The statement quoted Ihedioha as saying: “May I urge all party members who participated in the congresses but did not emerge as delegates, to be calm and not see it as an end to a political goal. It is, however, gratifying to note that the massive enthusiasm, generated by the congresses, speaks volumes of the total acceptance and implicit confidence of Imo people in our party.
“We know the enemies of PDP and indeed Imo State, and certainly, they are not within the confines of our party.”
The statement said, “The attention of former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha CON, has been drawn to the activities of some media practitioners, supporters and members of Team Ihedioha that are alleged to be unfriendly, by their use of language, particularly against some leaders of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party.
“Rt. Hon. Ihedioha frowns at this development and therefore has directed his media team and supporters, to forthwith, stop every form of attack on aspirants, party leaders or any other member of the PDP family for that matter.
“This directive is informed by his avowed commitment to the unity and progress of the reformed and rebranded PDP. Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has consequently, charged his associates and supporters to exhibit every form of responsibility and party discipline, in the understanding that only a united and cohesive PDP can give confidence to the Imo electorate.”
The front-line contender for the Douglas House (Imo State Government House), while congratulating the party on the successful conduct of the congresses for the adhoc delegates and those that have emerged victorious, also tasked the delegates to see themselves as representatives of their wards.
“The frontline governorship hopeful urges our party “to continue to keep to the creed of, aga atuyatu, aga aguyagu… in the overall interest of our party.”
He also noted that “all delegates are representatives of the interest of the entire party,” adding that “there are no losers and there are no winners as all are part of the whole. It is a matter of no victor, no vanquished.”