I’ll never be in a party that will destroy Nigeria – Obasanjo
By Adebimpe Afunku, Abeokuta, and Samuel Ogidan, Abdullahi M. Gulloma, and Martin Paul, Abuja
PDP leaders yesterday reacted angrily to Olusegun Obasanjo’s dumping the party by tearing his membership card in public.
In a dramatic fashion, the former president had ordered the chairman of his Ward 11, Abeokuta North local government area, Hon. Surajudeen Oladunjoye, to tear the membership card into shreds, saying he was no longer a politician but a national and international statesman.
He had heard in the grapevine that the PDP leadership was mulling the idea of suspending or expelling him for “anti-party activities”.
Chief Tony Anenih, the PDP and Senator Walid Jibrin said they would not lose focus over Obasanjo’s departure. Jibrin particularly said the former president had acted irresponsibly.
Fielding questions from newsmen after the card-tearing session, the former president had said: “You asked me two questions and I will answer them comprehensively. But before I answer, this Nigeria belongs to all of us and it must not be destroyed.
“This is my PDP’s membership card. 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 and if they destroy it it becomes a burden to our children and incoming generation.
“The question asked is that which party am I? I belong to the group that believes that Nigeria must not be destroyed.
Those of you that are marketers, you observed that there is inflation in the market.
“The bureau de change operators exchange dollars with N150 then, and it’s going to be N250 to a dollar.
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 dreamt of. There is no job. Some people have started destroying Nigeria and I will never be in a party that will destroy Nigeria.”
Obasanjo, who renounced his membership of any political party, said he could only work with a party that would not destroy the country, adding that the PDP exists because there is Nigeria and that “without Nigeria, there will be no PDP anymore.”
He said: “They said they want to expel me from PDP. Although I have not been told, but I have my ears on ground. We have been trying to run away from a man, but he pleads we should 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.”
In a dramatic move, Obasanjo handed over his PDP membership card, saying: “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. From today on, in the presence of all of 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. The issue that they want to expel me from the party, once you people are with me, what other people am I looking for? And on the day of election, you don’t need to be a politician before you get your PVC.”
In its reaction, the PDP said would not miss Obasanjo.
Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, told State House correspondents after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, said Obasanjo has the right to join any party of his choice.
“He has the right to leave any party, and he has the right to join any party. He is a Nigerian,” he said.
Anenih also dismissed insinuations that the decision of the former president was a big loss to the party, saying, “To us leaders, it is not a loss.”
The leadership of the PDP also said the party would not lose focus over Obasanjo’s exit.
The party, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said: “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 noted that 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 the party with regard to his reservations on certain issues within our fold.”
It added: “Many Nigerians are still bewildered as to what manner of provocation could have led a former president to lose his composure and go to the extent of tearing the membership card of the party that he once led.
“Indeed, the PDP is hugely at loss as to how the decision and action of the former president, who had enjoyed the benefits of being elected to the highest position of leadership, will assist in deepening our democracy and stabilising the polity.
“It is our considered opinion that no matter the provocation, a statesmanly disposition from a person of Chief Obasanjo’s status could have encouraged our citizens and help in stabilising system.
“We believe, however, that what this country needs now is patriotic actions that engender national unity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence of our people irrespective of political, ethnic and religious persuasions.
The overall interest of our nation and wellbeing of our citizens must remain paramount and above all personal and group interests.
“We direct all our members across the country to remain focused on our campaigns and not to be distracted on this issue.
With an array of credible candidates led by our presidential flagbearer, President Goodluck Jonathan, we are sure that we will emerge victorious come March 28 and April 11, 2015 general elections.”
Also speaking, the Secretary of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin, said the way and manner in which Obasanjo quit the party was irresponsible.
Jibrin told State House correspondents yesterday in Abuja that the former president ought to have utilised all the avenues at his disposal to reach out to President Jonathan and the party leaders to express his grievances.
“Should Obasanjo a former Head of State, behave that way?” he asked. “Even if you want to take a decision like that would you do it that way? As a responsible person would you do it that way? I am not saying he is not a responsible person.
“Responsibly, one should do it in a very neat way. There is a process of coming out of PDP:, you go to your ward, submit your card, give some explanations why you are doing so, not just in the public.
“Why should the chairman tear the card? Is he supporting him?
“You have to consider the kind of people making utterances. There are some utterances that are not worthy of leaders. You have to make very responsible utterances. There other past presidents in Nigeria, have they behaved that way?
“He should have behaved responsibly, do it nicely and maturely. If he wants to leave PDP is it wrong for him to do so? If he is to do that will he come out in the public? He has access to the president, he has all the podium to do so, he has all the privileges to go and discuss with the president. Do others behave that way?
“Our party is going ahead with its plan to win the elections. By the grace of God we are going to win the election.”
In his view, a notable PDP stakeholder, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, described the exit of Obasanjo from the party as “a welcome development.”
In a telephone chat with newsmen, Babatope said: “Leaving the PDP has come as a happy and welcome development. With Obasanjo’s exit, a huge yoke has been lifted off the necks of PDP.
“I congratulate the PDP for being patient in dealing with former President Obasanjo’s offensive against the party without embarking on wild and unproductive conclusions. Though Obasanjo is a hard fighter, his exit will have no effect of any kind on the PDP. The PDP will, by God’s grace, win the March elections.”