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. Read part of the statement after the cut.
“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.
Mr. Obasanjo said he would, however, remain active at the PDP ward level.
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.
