Apparently disturbed by the resignation of its Chairman, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the People Democratic Party, PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) has expressed shock at the Obasanjo’s sudden resignation as its Chairman.
Speaking through the Board Secretary, Senator Walid Jibril who described Obasanjo’s resignation as impromptu said that his (Obasnjo’s) action will not break up the party.
Senator Jibril appealed to the BoT members not to be distracted by the sudden resignation of their Chairman.
“The BoT members are highly classical gentlemen and women who will do the correct thing and since the constitution has provided for that the Chairman and Secretary should emerge from among ourselves just the way I was elected as Secretary last month unanimously, we will sit down after wider consultations to elect a new chairman soon”. The BoT Secretary said.
He stated that ‘’I am calling on BoT members of the party to remain calm, Chief Olusegun Obasnjo’s resignation, though shocking and impromptu will not break the PDP.”???????????????????
Shocked at Obasanjo’s resignation, Jibrin said he had put a call through to Obasanjo on hearing of his action, but said he (Obasanjo) assured him that he had just resigned and that he took the decision in his best interest.
Meanwhile? there are indications? that some leaders of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have begun jostling to replace former President Olusegun Obasanjo as Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees.
Sources within the party told LEADERSHIP that members of the party within the South-West zone have been holding meetings to fashion out a way to retaining the office in the zone as a way of bringing it into the scheme of things in the current political arrangement.
“We have just left Baba in Abeokuta now and I think from our discussion with him, he seems to be very disposed to having Senator Ahmadu Ali return as the BoT chairman. He gave us the hint in the discussions we had with him and I think that where he is going.” The source who is close to the former leader said.
If this happens, it will go to further confirm that the enmity generated by the emergence of Obasanjo in 2007 when he, capitalizing on the amendment of some sections of the party’s constitution to edge out Annenih from office, in what observers described as a palace coup.
The hostilities would be renewed in July when the two would square up as they take two opposing sides with Obasanjo supporting his former military comrade against Annenih when the contest begins.