Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has formerly dump the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The former president announced his decision when members of the party from his Ward II in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State visited him at his Hilltop mansion residence in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
To prove his decision was irreversible, Obasanjo ordered the Chairman of the party in the ward, Usman Oladunjoye, who led the delegation to tear his (Obasanjo’s) PDP membership card at the meeting.
The move was hailed with a thunderous applause by those present.
He equally denied the allegation by President Goodluck Jonathan that he was plotting to head an Interim National Government, which was the reason advanced by the administration at the centre for the recent criticism of the regime by Obasanjo.
Obasanjo said he no longer has interest in the party he helped to form and nurture and that he now want to become a statesman.
The former president said he does not want to be a part of a government who has no regards for constitutionalism and scoffed at the rumoured plan to expel him from the party, saying: “We’ve been trying to run away from a mad man but he pleads we wait for him at the other side of the river.”
Obasanjo said Nigeria belongs to all and must not be allowed to collapse, adding that “Where I am standing is that Nigeria belongs to everybody including babies. We must not allow anybody to destroy it wherever they come from, whatever they have, if they destroy it, it becomes our burden, to our children and incoming generation.”
He said his new political party is the group that says “Nigeria must not be destroyed”, adding that “Those of you that are marketers must have observed that there’s inflation in the market. The bureau de change operators exchanged $1 to N150 sometime ago. Before you know it, it is going to be N250 to a $1.
“What it means is that, what you’ve been buying for N150 will be bought for N250. This is not the kind of country we dreamed of. There’s no job, no employment and some people have started destroying Nigeria and I will never be in a party that will destroy Nigeria.
“Perhaps, you don’t understand that it is because there’s Nigeria that is why PDP exists. Without Nigeria, there will be no PDP. What some of us should be concerned is how to make Nigeria stronger and make our economy witness growth.
“They said they want to expel me from PDP… although I have not been told but I have my ears on ground. We’ve been trying to run away from a mad man but he pleads we wait for him at the other side of the river.
“I have told you before that I became president on the platform of PDP. Once I leave PDP I will not join any party. I will only be a Nigerian. I am ready to work with anybody regardless of political affiliation.
“Why would some people say they want to send me away. They don’t need to bother themselves. Here’s your membership card, take it.” He handed the card to Oladunjoye, who then tore it to pieces.
Obasanjo continued that ”From today on, in the presence of all us and with your support, I am not going to be in any political party in Nigeria. I am no more a politician but a statesman both internally and externally.
“And on the day of election, whatever it takes the PVC must be obtained… you don’t need to be a politician before you get your PVC. On the day of election, you can vote for your choice, but I will vote for those who will repair Nigeria and not those who will destroy it.”
Obasanjo had in the past said he would not leave the PDP, but he has been embroiled in a public face-off with Jonathan in the last two years.
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