Obasanjo to APC: I'm still in PDP
Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Saturday told the leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) that he remains a 'card carrying member' of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said, 'My Party is PDP. My politics is Nigeria, Africa and the World in that order. I am a democrat and I do know that one of the essential ingredients of democracy is opposition.
'Always put Nigeria first above personal and group interests.
'The politics that should be played should be politics with decency, without rancour and one that has Nigeria at the heart of all that is done.
'I am incurably optimistic about Nigeria and I am also totally committed to Nigeria and nothing will divert me or distract me from that commitment.'
Obasanjo spoke while receiving leaders of APC at his Hilltop home in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State.
He told the leaders of the APC, who visited him on Saturday in continuation of their consultations on political developments in Nigeria that he is a democrat that believes in the existence of opposition.
The former president said these after a two-hour meeting held behind closed-doors. He commended the APC leaders, saying opposition was an essential ingredient of democracy.
'I regard this as an honour; to come and present your party and tell me the objectives. But let me start by saying that I am a card-carrying member of the PDP. But the politics I play traverse Nigeria, Africa and world in that order.
'I am a democrat and one of the essential ingredients of democracy is opposition. A democracy that has no opposition built into it is not democracy. As an opposition, you are enhancing democracy. You are at home, you are welcome.
'I will just appeal that the politics you play is politics without rancor; without bitterness; with decency; that has Nigeria at heart. I am an incurable optimist about Nigeria. I am totally committed to Nigeria and nothing will divert me from that commitment,' he said.
The APC leaders eulogised the virtues of the former president, describing him as a reference point in Nigeria's politics.
The former president has become the latest bride for the APC.
Not ready to leave any stone unturned, the leadership and chieftains of APC latched on to the souring of the relationship between Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan to woo the former president to declare for their party.
The party had paid similar visits to all former members of G7 governors, who similarly had soured relationship with current leadership Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Their effort yield five governors out the seven in the former G&, as both Gov Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and Sule Lamido Jigawa developed cold feet at the last moment.
APC leaders were in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Saturday to try their luck on Obasanjo, after all by his actions and words his sympathy appears to have shifted against the party.
APC's delegation was led by the party's Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, former Head of State, General Mohammadu Buhari; former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Tinubu; former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai; former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode; former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ((EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; and the Interim National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
Others leaders of the party in attendance were governors of Ogun, Oyo, Imo, Kwara, Adamawa and Rivers states, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Chief Rochas Okorocha, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, Mallam Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso and Honourable Rotimi Amaechi, respectively.
Also in attendance were former governors of Kwara and Borno states, Senator Bukola Saraki and Senator Alli Modu Sheriff, respectively; former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Imam; Senator Osita Isunazor and former Speaker, House of Representatives, Mallam Aminu Bello Masari.
The chieftains of the APC had earlier converged on the Oke-Igbein Government House and left for Obasanjo's house in a white Coaster bus marked OGGH 142, at about 5.40 p.m. They were all received by Obasanjo who was clad in white flowing garment (agbada) and a blue cap to match. They went straight into a meeting which lasted for 25 minutes.
Akande, in his remarks, said they were in Abeokuta to introduce the APC as an opposition party and also to show their support for Obasanjo on the 18-page letter written to President Goodluck Jonathan recently.
He said that the former Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman of the PDP was in the best position to write such a germane letter to anyone, considering his wealth of experience about the political landscape of the Nigeria.
Senator Tinubu, who also addressed the gathering, said the party saluted the courage of Obasanjo for speaking the truth about the state of the nation. He said their visit was not to woo Baba, but to tap from his wealth of experience.
'You have come out of tribulation and held the highest position in this country. We are here because of your courage and salient point. Nobody can dispute the fact by saying he has more information than you.
'You have surmounted number of crises. Nigeria is divided more than before. We need to realise a stable Nigeria. We want to encourage you to continue to speak the truth. We have resolved and determined to rescue Nigeria. We want you as our navigator,' he said.
Obasanjo, in his response, added that the issue of Nigeria went beyond party politics. He called on the political class to play politics without bitterness or rancour, as the nation gravitates towards another political dispensation.
Meanwhile, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana, has described moves by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to woo some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as antithetical to spirit of progressive politics.