Obasanjo early yesterday, announced his exit
from the party while hosting members of the
PDP from his Ward 11, Abeokuta North Local
Government Area of Ogun State, who called on
him to enquire on his continued membership of
the party following what they claimed as the no
love lost relationship with the president.
The members were led by the ward chairman,
Alhaji Usman Oladunjoye who asked him to
explain where he belongs.
In his response, Obasanjo said he had his ears
close to the ground and said that he, too, had
heard of the plan by the PDP leadership to
sanction him.
He said: “You asked me two questions and I will
answer them comprehensively. 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 our 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’s inflation in
the market. The bureaux de change operators
exchanged dollars with N150 then and is (now)
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 dream of. There’s no job,
employment. 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 anymore.
“What some of us should be concerned about
now is how to make Nigeria stronger and our
economy would witness economic growth.
I won’t join another party
“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
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’m 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,” Obasanjo
said as he handed over the card to the ward
chairman.
“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. Once you people are with me what
other people am I looking for?
“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.
Tears the card
“What is important is that we should hold Ward
11 community together, what we are going to do
now is that I don’t have the burden of PDP
again. Help me tear into pieces my membership
card”, he said as the ward chairman dutifully
carried out the directive.
Obasanjo also dismissed claims by the Jonathan
campaign organisation that he was planning the
installation of an interim national government.
“How can anybody in his right senses talk of ING
in a democratic setting? Some of them are
working for it (but) God will not allow it. In my
ward, we’ll be meeting from time to time to
discuss and interact on whatever you want and
what I want.
“I don’t want to be carrying membership card
around but you can do that but when election
comes, we’ll pray God would direct us to vote
rightly. Nigeria will be okay, Ogun will be alright,”
Obasanjo said.
Ward members jubilate
Immediately after Obasanjo’s card was torn, his
ward members rose in jubilation and started
praising him for the action.
Before now, scores of Obasanjo’s loyalists,
including the sacked PDP National Auditor, Chief
Bode Mustapha; the sacked National Secretary,
Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former governor
Segun Oni, Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, Chief Jide
Awosedo and others had defected from the PDP
to the APC, on the orders of the former
president. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/tore-my-pdp-membership-card-obasanjo/