Former president of Nigeria and one
time PDP
Board of Trustees Chairman, Olusegun Obasanjo has said he is
still in PDP,
but will not be active as expected. Some PDP chieftains have been begging
the former head of state to become active once again in the party, because his
influence cannot be swept under the carpet. Obasanjo who is believed not
to be happy that President Jonathan will be contesting in 2015 according to a
report says, Jonathan has not kept to their earlier agreement. He was also fast
to say he holds Nigeria in high esteem than any party. And most importantly, if
PDP
wants him to be active, Buruji Kashamu, a PDP South West leader and ally of
President Goodluck Jonathan will have nothing to do with the party.
Obasanjo made these
statements on Sunday in a press release made available to journalists in
Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
“My interest and commitment to Nigeria go beyond partisan politics. Under no condition will my commitment to Nigeria be diminished.”
“For me, it is commitment to Nigeria
first and any other commitment can only follow in second or third place. Where
any other commitment is in tandem with what I see and understand as commitment
to Nigeria, such other commitment will share a pride of place with Nigeria.”
“Today, Nigeria needs all hands on
deck to deal with our pressing problems of security including the issue of
Chibok girls, widening inequality, infrastructure, impunity, corruption,
poverty and youth education, skill-acquisition, empowerment and employment.
“These are issues of concern to most
Nigerians. We all need to join hands to move Nigeria forward. I don’t need to
be begged for that.”
“Talking of inviting me back to PDP
is wrong and it is a great misrepresentation as I have never left PDP
and I will never leave PDP.”
“I have said it before and I will
say it again, I rose to become the President of Nigeria on the platform of PDP
and for that reason alone, I will remain a card-carrying and ward-active member
of PDP
for as long as I have to be a political party member.”
“Nobody has personally offended me
as a result of my membership of PDP. If, however, anybody or group feels offended
by my continued membership, I will offer an unreserved apology but continue to
remain in the party.
“I have had occasions to say to the
President, the Senate President and the Party Chairman separately that I have
no quarrel with any individual or group in the Party.”
My refusal to play an active role in
the PDP,
is an issue of principle and morality.
“For instance, as a former President
of Nigeria, the Chairman of West Africa Commission on Drug and a member of
Global Commission on Drug, I cannot accept that the Zonal leader of my
political Party and, worse still in my zone, will be an indicted drug baron
wanted in America. How do I explain that to friends outside Nigeria?” he said
in reference to Buruji Kashamu, a PDP South West leader and ally of President
Goodluck Jonathan.
“This is only one of the many issues
that I have pointed and still pointing out,” he said.
However in a letter published
earlier by Premium Times, the former leader had said by deciding to seek
re-election, Mr. Jonathan was going against all the agreements they had in 2011
when Mr. Obasanjo was the president’s chief campaigner across the
country.
The former president believes that
by their agreements in 2011, the PDP presidential ticket for 2015 should go to a
northerner.
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