The People’s Democratic Party has officially reacted to the exit of former president Olusegun Obasanjo from the party, expressing shock and sadness that the party’s first presidential candidate and former chairman of the highest organ of the, Board of Trustees (BoT) could dump the party.
Obasanjo earlier on Monday openly tore his PDP membership card at his Abeokuta residence in presence of PDP members from his ward who had come to plead with him to soften his stance against President Goodluck jonathan.
Some chieftains of the PDP had reacted to Obasanjo’s action with the secretary to the PDP’s BoT, Walid Jibrin, saying the ex-president was irresponsible. The chairman of the board, Tony Anenih, said the former Nigerian leader will not be missed by the party.
In a statement signed by the party’s publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh, PDP said it was saddened by Obasanjo’s exit while conceding that the president had right to take the action.
“While we concede to the inalienable rights of every citizen to hold opinion and to decide who to associate with, we are however deeply saddened that Chief Obasanjo, a revered leader of our party, our first Presidential flagbearer whom the PDP offered the platform to rule our nation for eight years, could decide to abandon this party at this critical point in time.”
The party also claimed that the ex-president rejected pleas to stay in the party and help party secure victory in the next general elections.
“This is especially as Chief Obasanjo, who was also the Chairman of the highest advisory organ of the PDP, the Board of Trustees (BoT) discountenanced all pleas by elders and leaders of our great party with regard to his reservations on certain issues within our fold.
The party said it believed that that what the country needed now iwas patriotic actions that engender national unity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence of our people irrespective of political, ethnic and religious
persuasions. It advised that the interest of the nation and wellbeing Nigerians must remain paramount and above all personal and group interests.
It directed all its members across the country to remain focused on our campaigns and not to be distracted on the issue.
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