What PDP Has To Say About Obasanjo's Exit
The exit of former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo from the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party came as a shock to many, especially the way he went about it.
Though there have been reactions from different quarters, the national leadership of the PDP is yet to officially react to Obasanjo’s action, as the party’s spokesperson, Mr. Olisa Metuh, was said to have travelled outside the country.
According to Punch report, his deputy, Alhaji Ibrahim Jalo, who refused to speak on the issue, said only the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu or the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, were in the best positions to speak on the matter.
“Obasanjo is not just a person or someone I can react to like that. He was our President and was also the chairman of our Board of Trustees (BoT).
READ ALSO: Ogun PDP Expels Obasanjo
“So, whatever he has done can only be reacted to by the national chairman or the national secretary. I’m not in the position to react,” he stated.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO) in reaction to the departure of the former President from the party, said Obasanjo had burnt all the bridges with the manner he left the party.
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, the PDPPCO Director of Media and Publicity, in a statement issued on Monday said Obasanjo was free to leave the party but he didn’t have to do it in an insulting manner by publicly tearing the party card, ThisDay reports.
Fani-Kayode said: “Watching our party membership card being torn up whilst President Obasanjo was standing there and smiling was painful and tragic.
READ ALSO: Obasanjo Is An Embarrassment To Military
“This is a party which he helped to build and on whose platform he was elected President for eight good years. The truth is that President Obasanjo is far better and far bigger than that. Such behavior is provocative and unacceptable.
“He is free to leave the party but does he have to spit in our faces by tearing up our party card in public and before the television cameras?
“This knee-jerk reaction is most unlike President Obasanjo and it is very insulting. It is clear that he has burnt all the bridges and that he has left us forever.”
Fani-Kayode said he was saddened by Obasanjo’s action but many of PDP members have heaved a sigh of relief.
He added that Obasnjo tearing up the party’s card showed how of the deep hatred and contempt that he has for the party.
READ ALSO: Fayose Lambasts Obasanjo, Calls Him A Confusionist
Meanwhile, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees and a chieftain of the party, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, on Monday said Obasanjo’s exit from the party has lifted a big yoke in the PDP.
Babatope, former minister of Transport said: "Obasanjo 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 offensives 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.”
Reacting to Obasanjo’s depature, the governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose had expressed optimism over the development saying that OBJ’s quit was a good sign for the PDP
Source: Legit.ng
