Olusegun Obasanjo
Ex-President remains expelled- Ogun PDP
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday finally dumped Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a yet to be disclosed party, saying: “I am not interested in the party again; I am now a statesman.”
It is believed that the former president, who has been drumming support for former president Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential ambition under the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) as well as declaring his support for APC’s Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s second term re-election in Ogun State, may declare for APC.
Obasanjo, who spoke while welcoming his former party members from Ward 11 in his residence, said Nigeria belongs to everybody and it must not be destroyed.
In a swift reaction, the state chapter of the party stated that the former president remained expelled from the party.
The party Chairman, Engr. Bayo Dayo, while addressing news men in Abeokuta, stated: “The totality of the executive, leaders and members of PDP family in the Ogun hereby state categorically as from today Monday 16 February, 2015, Obasanjo Aremu Olusegun stands expelled and excommunicated from the party, thereby losing all rights, previous privileges and respect of our teeming party members.”
Dayo added that Obasanjo’s ward had earlier sent in a letter dated 12th February, 2015 expressed concerns about Obasanjo’s numerous anti-party activities and uncomplimentary utterances targeted at the leader of the party.
However, the party members, led by Mr. Sunmonu Oladunjoye, who visited the former president’s residence, had gone to see he ex-president to clear rumours that he had been expelled from the party following his recent comment in the media.
Obasanjo, therefore, said Nigeria belongs to all and must not be allowed to collapse, noting that he stands on what will strengthen the nation at all times.
The former president said: “This is my PDP’s membership card.” Thereafter he handed the membership card to Oladunjoye who tore the card at his residence.
He said: “Where 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.”
He said the question asked him was that which political party he was, and said he belonged 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 bureau de change operators exchanged one dollar to N150 some time ago, Before you know it, it’s going to be N250 to a dollar,” he said.
He added: “What it means is that what you’ve been buying for 150 naira will be bought for N250, this is not the kind of country we dream 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.”
He added “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 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, 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, 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 am not going to be in any political party in Nigeria. 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 repair Nigeria and not those who will destroy it.”
