Why Obasanjo tore his PDP membership card as Ogun PDP expels Obasanjo from PDP

Reasons why the former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday morning dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has emerged.

He handed over his PDP membership card to the Ward 11 leader in Abeokuta North local government, Alhaji Surajudeen Oladunjoye instructed him to tear it.

Oladunjoye, who led about 350 members of the ward to a fact-finding mission at the Obasanjo's residence, tore the card into shreds to the admiration of the party followers, some of whom also tore their cards.

Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, he said if his involvement in partisan politics would stop him from having a better Nigeria, then he is ready to sacrifice membership of the PDP and become a statesman.

Obasanjo who was responding to enquiry on rumour to expel him from the party, directed his aide to get his membership card and few minutes later he was given, throw it away, declaring that "if this is why we cannot have the Nigeria we desire, I am no longer part of this." Obasanjo who is a founding member of the ruling party ruled Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 for two terms of eight years. He had led the country as a military head of state from 1976 to 1979.

MEANWHILE, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun on Monday announced the expulsion of former President Olusegun Obasanjo from the party.

The PDP Chairman in the state, Mr Bayo Dayo, announced the expulsion at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta.

“The leaders and members of the PDP family in Ogun state hereby state categorically that as from Monday, Feb. 16, Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo stands expelled and excommunicated from the party,’’ he said.

The party’s chairman said the expulsion followed the “unabated anti -party activities’’ of Obasanjo.

“ His ward 11, Abeokuta North Local Government, had earlier sent a letter dated Feb. 12 expressing serious concerns at his numerous anti-party activities and uncomplimentary utterances targeted at the leader of the party, President Goodluck Jonathan.

“It is ironic that this is the same Obasanjo, who when he was president, neither tolerated nor accepted any opinion, suggestion or criticism during his tenure,’’ he said.

The chairman said the implication of the expulsion included the loss of all rights and privileges previously enjoyed by Obasanjo in the party.

“The general public, especially the media, are to take note that whatever Obasanjo does or says must no longer be seen from the prism of a PDP leader.

“Members of the public, zonal organs of our party and the National Executive Committee of the PDP are to take note of the expulsion,“he said. (NAN)

Details soon