Obasanjo dumps PDP, tears party card

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday, dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party that brought him to power in 1999 for a two-term eight-year tenure.
The former Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the 16-year-old party also tore his membership card. PDP was founded in August, 1998.
Obasanjo, however, said he would not join another party but he will remain a statesman.
It is generally believed that even if he doesn’t join the All Progressives Congress (APC) openly, he will work underground for the success of its presidential candidate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, during the March 28 election.
Obasanjo has been having a running battle with the PDP candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, attacking the president openly.
Obasanjo announced his decision on Monday at his Hilltop Mansion, Abeokuta, Ogun State when he met with PDP members from his Ward 11 in Abeokuta North Local Government. The party’s ward chairman, Alhaji Usman Oladunjoye, ‎led the delegation.
After announcing his resignation from the PDP, he ordered Oladunjoye to tear his (Obasanjo) membership card.
Oladunjoye did to the loud applause of party members.
“Now, I want to be addressed as a statesman. I no longer belong to the PDP. I have quit the party and I will not join another party. It is also not true that I am plotting to head an Interim National Government. For what?” he asked.