Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has reportedly ripped apart his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) membership card.
Obasanjo is said to have torn the card just a day after he accused President Goodluck Jonathan of plotting to frustrate the conduct of the upcoming general elections.
Obasanjo also stated that Jonathan, who is of the PDP, was afraid that he would be jailed by All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Muhammadu Buhari if the latter were to win elections.
The guests, who are leaders of the PDP from Obasanjo’s ward around his former residence in Ita Eko, where he registered, visited the ex-president to express their concern with his recent utterances against the government of President Goodluck Jonathan and what he considered as the President’s role in the postponement of the general elections from February to March.
Obasanjo had alleged on Saturday that Jonathan had a “grand plan” to scuttle democracy in the country through the poll shift, accusing the President of trying to win the presidential poll “through hook or crook.”
The guests in Abeokuta had told the former Head of State that they had come to plead with him to stop his criticisms of the incumbent president.
They also informed him of the feelers that they were getting that the leaders of the party were planning to expel him from the party.
Obasanjo asked his guests if they were with their PDP membership card, which some of them produced.
He subsequently asked for his own, which someone brought to him.
He then directed the leader of the team to tear the card in shreds, telling the visitors that he was no longer a member of the ruling party.
The former president had last year resigned his membership of the party, when he was the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, arguing that he could no longer be in the same party and be led in the South-West by someone he referred to as a confirmed drug baron.
After he had thanked them for their concern and narrated how the Goodluck Jonathan administration had almost run the country aground, he said, “They said they want to expel me from the PDP, although I have not been told that; I have my ears to the ground.
“We have 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 the PDP and once I leave the party, I will not join any other 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 (at this point, he gave the card to Oladunjoye to tear).
As Oladunjoye stood up and tore the card, with Obasanjo watching him closely, the visitors rose from their seats, raised their hands and danced in support of his action.
After the pieces of the card were handed to some of the visitors, Obasanjo said, “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.
“You asked me two questions and I will answer them comprehensively. But before I answer them let me say this. This Nigeria belongs to all of us and it must not be destroyed.
“This is my PDP membership card, where I’m 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 us, our children and the incoming generation.
“The question asked is which party am I? I belong to the group that believes that Nigeria must not be destroyed. Those of you that are traders, will observe that there’s inflation in the country . The Bureau de Change operators used to change a $1 for N150 but it is going to be N250 to a dollar.
“What it means is that, what you’ve been buying for N150 will sell for N250. This is not the kind of country we dream of. There’s no job; no money.
“It is unfortunate that those destroying the country are oblivious of the fact that the PDP exists because Nigeria still exists.
“I will never be in a party that will destroy Nigeria. Without Nigeria, there will be no PDP. What should be of concern to us is how to make Nigeria stronger by making our economy grow .”
Obasanjo,who joined the PDP in 1998, also debunked the allegation that he wanted to head an Interim National Government.
He said, “How can anybody in his right senses talk of ING in a democratic setting? Some of them are working for it. God will not allow it.’’ But almost two hours after he quit the PDP, the Dayo-led executive of the party, said the former President’s ward had in a letter dated February 12, accused him of anti-party activities and uncomplimentary utterances against President Goodluck Jonathan.
via nigerianeye
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