Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria, said on Saturday that he would not reverse his decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and partisan politics.
Obasanjo, who was twice elected President of Nigeria on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), abandoned his membership in the party after a disagreement with former President Goodluck Jonathan during the run-up to the 2015 election.
Obasanjo declared his resignation from party politics after forcing the chairman of his ward to rip his membership card to pieces in front of the entire community.
Obasanjo, in an address to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Iyorchia Ayu, and other stakeholders who paid him a visit in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Saturday, stated that he had no intention of returning to partisan politics or the PDP in the future.
At approximately 12:25 p.m., Ayu escorted four former governors and members of the party's National Working Committee to a meeting at the Pent House residence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, which is located within his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
Aside from Obi, who is the PDP's vice presidential candidate in the 2019 election, former governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, Liyel Imoke of Cross River, and Donald Duke were also in the delegation (Cross River).
Afterward, President Obasanjo and the leaders of the PDP convened for a meeting that lasted more than two hours.
Speaking to a larger gathering of PDP stakeholders following the discussion, Obasanjo acknowledged that, having served as President of Nigeria twice on the PDP platform, the party would continue to be a part of his personal and political history.
"I'm no longer involved in partisan politics, and there is nothing that may entice me to rejoin them," he declared. I shall always be available to provide advice to anyone who seeks it in the best interests of Nigeria.
"Whatever I do in my personal life...because I was elected president on the platform of the People's Democratic Party, the PDP will continue to be a part of my life." Since the day I tore my PDP membership card, which marked the day I officially ceased to be a member of the PDP, I have pledged not to become a member of any political party in the future.
"I intend to continue to serve as a statesman."
According to Obasanjo, he is responsible for the difficulties of the PDP and Nigeria, and he prayed that God would grant him the wisdom to deal with the situation.
Responding to Obasanjo, Ayu stated that "even if you abandon the PDP, you will never be free of the blood of the PDP."
He stated that the party would always seek his views on matters pertaining to Nigerian government.