PDP disowns Obasanjo over returnee members

National Secretariat of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday disowned  its Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman and former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, over the statement credited to him that all the members in Ogun State, who have left for one reason or the other, cannot return to the party.

The PDP declared that all its former members, who intend to come back, are welcome to its fold anytime.
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The party also warned that the National Working Committee (NWC) would take decisive actions against any member of the executive committee, or groups of individuals at any level, found to be engaged in unwholesome activities during the ongoing registration and membership revalidation exercise.

It threatened to sanction any official or member, who denies any of its former or present member, access to exercise.

Besides, the PDP overruled Obasanjo's declaration that Speaker Aminu Tambuwal of the House of Representatives should step down from his position.

The party's Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, who made its position known yesterday in Abuja, added: “The issue that happens on June 6th at the National Assembly, we have looked at it critically and as far as our party is concerned, we have put it behind us because the people who are said to be involved in this aberration have openly apologised, not only to their party, the PDP, but to the entire Nigerians and the world that they are sorry.

“The former National Chairman of our great party even told the entire world that the party, as well as the leadership, said they have accepted their apology, and I have also said it several times and I will repeat it again for the clarity of Nigerians that we have put that behind us. Therefore, the Speaker of the House of Representatives has come to stay.

Baraje, who spoke at the National Secretariat of the party, while addressing newsmen on the on-going membership registration said: “Our register is open to all Nigerians, including members who want to come back; they are free as long as they follow due process. We have all the rules and regulations in our constitution.

“If you have for any reason at anytime leave the party, you are automatically de-registered. But, if you think otherwise and you want to come back, the rules are there and simple. We in the PDP do our own things in an open and transparent manner.

“Before anybody is expelled or sanctioned, everything will be done to justify the actions in the glare of the public. We are not a secret cult like some other political parties. As far as we are concerned, the register is open and it is open to all Nigerians.”

On the registration exercise, Baraje said, “the decision to open up our party’s register is informed by the need to afford our teeming admirers and supporters throughout the country the opportunity to join the PDP formally and participate actively in the national transformation agenda of our President and our great party.

“It is also borne out of the need to update our membership register and provide a level playing field for all those who wish to utilise the vast opportunities and advantages that the PDP offers to our members, supporters and admirers.

“The ongoing membership exercise is open to all Nigerians from 18 years and above who fulfil the criteria for membership of our party. It is also an opportunity for current members to revalidate and renew their membership of our great party. It is not intended to witch-hunt or excludes anybody from our party.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our executives at all levels must be informed in clear terms that this is not de-registration exercise, nor is it an opportunity for anyone to whimsically deny any Nigerian, who is willing and ready to join our party. The registration project is conceived in the all-inclusive philosophy of the PDP and must be insulated from selfish interests and unwarranted controversies by uninformed and overzealous persons, who may try to create unnecessary obstacles to those who genuinely want to be part of our party.

“All current members are required to update their membership dues. Members who have outstanding dues to pay must do so during this registration window, if they are to remain bona fide members of the party.

“In states where disputes exist as to who the authentic executives are at the ward, local government and state levels, specific instructions have been given to the National Vice-Chairmen of the six geopolitical zones and members of the National Working Committee from the National Secretariat, who will be overseeing the smooth conduct of the exercise in the zones, to ensure that the various factions are brought together; this is what we refer to as consolidation of registers”.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the PDP in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State said it has concluded plans to give the former governor of the state, Mr. Ayo Fayose, a rousing welcome back to the party.

Rising from a stakeholders meeting of the party in the council area yesterday, the party reaffirmed its earlier stand that Fayose is welcomed back unconditionally, while it condemned in strong terms a statement credited to one Mr. Yomi Ayorinde, who claimed to be the Co-ordinator of Ekiti Patriotic Forum, and warned that he should desist from such “an embarrassing outburst capable of weakening the party structure”.