Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo at the weekend dispelled
rumours about his death, saying, "I am still alive". He made the
denial when he met with the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji
Bamanga Tukur in Abeokuta.
Obasanjo expressed worry why people should spread death rumour about
him. He said that keeping quiet on issues of national importance was
not the best option for him because of his love for Nigeria.
"Because, if there is no Nigeria, there will not be a party and if
there is no party, there will be nothing to govern on the platform of
the party. "If there is anything that requires my own comment,
position or views I will say it.
"It is my passion, patriotism and love that will continue to make me
say my own. If I see something that is inimical to the growth of the
party, I will talk," he said. Obasanjo expressed his delight over
Tukur's visit, describing the PDP chieftain a respected leader.
"It is always a delight to have our oga visit us to see what we are
doing and what we are not doing. "To know our anxiety, aspirations and
concerns. And also to disabuse the minds of the rumour mongers. The
President is my President. Those who want me and the chair to quarrel;
this visit will keep them quiet.
"Without Nigeria there will be no party even when I was in prison I
was not quiet," he said. Tukur said that the main purpose of his visit
was to appreciate the former PDP Board of Trustees chairman for his
persistent and consistent role not only for the party but for the
country and the international community.
"Your support has never been relenting and I have come to say" thank
you sir," he said. Tukur, however, affirmed the leadership of the Dipo
Odujirin-led executive in the state, declaring that the party only
recognised the elected executive.
"Whoever the people have elected as far as I am concerned, is the
chairman of our party in Ogun," he said. Senator Odujinrin and 28
others were elected as members of the state Executive Committee in
August 2012 and the election was supervised by the national body of
the party.
But Odujinrin's chairmanship was opposed by a faction of the party who
claimed a court ruling was in their favour. Tukur said : "there is no
crisis here in Ogun PDP at all.
"I have come here because of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who
is the leader of our party and I'm now the chairman.
"We do this with the leaders of our party throughout the country and
my own programme is about reconciliation, reformation and rebuilding.
"I have been going round to the leaders and stakeholders of our party.
So I can assure you that there is nothing about crisis here.
"Secondly, about discipline in our party; if you listen to what I said
in Akwa Ibom, first of all, our own principle today is rebuilding our
party based on equity and justice, no imposition so that everybody
will feel to be part of that great party.
"It is only when you give people the leadership they did not elect
that is when you then start to get crisis. "As long as you build on
harmony, consultation and consensus you will see that the party will
be less or at almost zero conflict," he added. (NAN)
Source : dailymail
