Former President Olusegun Obasanjo famously instructed chairman of the PDP in his Abeokuta ward to tear his PDP membership card last year.
His famous words before his PDP membership card was publicly torn to shreds were: “They said they want to expel me from PDP… although I have not been told but I have my ears on ground. We’ve been trying to run away from a mad man but he pleads we wait for him at the other side of the river.
“Why would some people say they want to send me away? They don’t need to bother themselves. Here’s your membership card, take it.”
Obasanjo had fallen out with then president Goodluck Jonathan and the two-some exchanged bitter letters in the public space.
However, a spokesperson of the estranged former president Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, has said Obasanjo hasn’t formally left the PDP.
“Baba Obasanjo still remains the undisputed and authentic leader of the PDP in the south-west,” Okupe said.
“The fact that he tore his membership card is not tantamount to resignation from the party. An action he has not undertaken to date.
“Tearing of the membership card though a very negative action is undoubtedly a knee-jerk reaction to certain unacceptable or intolerable happenings within the party which can and will be redressed.
“In his temporary absence, we have a collegiate or confederal leadership of eminent and distinguished elders including Chief Bode George, Chief Ogunlewe, Aare Jubril Martins Kuye, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Chief Mrs Apampa, Dr. lekan Balogun, Baba Richard Akinjide, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, Chief Ebenezer BABATOPE, Shuabu Oyedokun, Iyiola Omisore, Prof. Adeniran, Gov Fayose, Gov Mimiko, Senator Bode Olajumoke amongst others.
“Senator Buruji Kashamu is NOT the leader of the PDP in the south-west. He is not even the leader of the party in Ogun state. He leads an NGO called Omo Ilu which engages in empowerment programmes in the state, mainly in the Ogun east senatorial district.
“We are a proud and a foremost race in Nigeria. We have enviable political antecedents and capable of presenting nationally credible and acceptable leadership at any and all time”, said Okupe.
