The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday announced the expulsion of former President Olusegun Obasanjo from the party.
That came too little too late.
Obasanjo had dealt the PDP a big blow earlier in the day when he tore his membership card.
Recent actions of the retired General had shown clearly that he was fed up with the party.
Obasanjo was President of Nigeria for eight years on the platform of the PDP.
His romance with the opposition All Progressives Congress and harsh criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan would have earned lesser mortals expulsion long ago.
But the party dillydallied, forcing the former President to force his expulsion.
And he did it in a manner that must embarrass any PDP member with a shred of shame left in him or her.
He announced his intention to leave the PDP when members of the party from his Ward II in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State visited him at his Hilltop Mansion in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The delegation was led by Chairman of the party in the ward, Alhaji Usman Oladunjoye.
Obasanjo then ordered Oladunjoye to tear his membership card at the meeting.
Obasanjo thereafter said he has decided to become an elder statesman.
He equally denied allegation by Aso Rock that he was plotting to head an Interim National Government, which was the reason advanced for his criticism of the Presidency under Jonathan.
Ogun State PDP Chairman, Bayo Dayo, later announced Obasanjo’s expulsion at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta.
“The leaders and members of the PDP family in Ogun State hereby state categorically that as from Monday, February 16, Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo stands expelled and excommunicated from the party,” he said.
Mr Dayo said the expulsion followed the “unabated anti -party activities” of Obasanjo.
“His ward 11, Abeokuta North Local Government, had earlier sent a letter dated February 12 expressing serious concerns at his numerous anti-party activities and uncomplimentary utterances targeted at the leader of the party, President Goodluck Jonathan.
“It is ironic that this is the same Obasanjo, who when he was President, neither tolerated nor accepted any opinion, suggestion or criticism during his tenure,” Dayo said.
The chairman said the implication of the expulsion included the loss of all rights and privileges previously enjoyed by Obasanjo in the party.
“The general public, especially the media, are to take note that whatever Obasanjo does or says must no longer be seen from the prism of a PDP leader.
“Members of the public, zonal organs of our party and the National Executive Committee of the PDP are to take note of the expulsion,” he said.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Monday described Obasanjo as an embarrassment to the military.
The DHQ made the comment in reaction to a statement credited to the former President that the general elections were postponed to enable Jonathan use the service chiefs for tenure extension.
The statement read in part, “The Defence Headquarters has noted the remarks of a former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, as reported in the media stating his views on perceived state of the armed forces and the roles being allegedly played by the military in the nation’s political process in recent times.
“It is however noteworthy that most of his utterances lately indicate an attitude of playing to the gallery or indulging in politicisation of serious national security or military affairs. For instance, the comments credited to Chief Obasanjo alleging that the postponement of the general elections was to enable President Jonathan use the service chiefs to plot a tenure extension is, to say the least, very surprising.
“It is surprising indeed, considering the fact that the retired General chose to ignore the clarification and emphatic assurances of non-partisanship of the military as declared in a DHQ statement on the position of the Armed Forces in the ongoing political activities. His motive as usual remains unknown but it is certainly less than noble or well intentioned. We dare say again that Chief Obasanjo’s assertions are false.
“Much as the military desires to respect the old General and his views, it has become necessary to point out that his conduct and unguarded utterances of late have fallen short of the standard of discipline expected of an individual who has had the privilege of service in the military and risen to the status of a General.
“The behaviour of retired General Obasanjo has been so unbecoming and continues to constitute a serious embarrassment to the military before all who have reasonably and rightly adjudged the essence of military background in terms of the high value and standard it tends to contribute to statesmanship.
“We feel constrained to remind the old General that the world has moved beyond that parochial and self-adulating reasoning and mindset which he seems stuck to. Indeed, he needs to be told that by virtue of their better training, exposure, education, assessment and environment, the military personnel of today are already far beyond his level in their appreciation of democracy and its indispensability for the stable and prosperous society which Nigerians cherish.”
The DHQ stressed that the military was not inept and could not have been misused in the manner presented by the former President.
Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (a position once held by Obasanjo), Tony Anennih, also on Monday dismissed Obasanjo’s decision to dump the party, saying he will not be missed.
In a brief interview with State House correspondents after meeting with President Jonathan, Chief Anennih said it is within Obasanjo’s right to dump the party.
According to Chief Anenih, “He (Obasanjo) has the right to leave any party, and he has the right to join any party. He is a Nigerian.”
When asked if the PDP would miss Obasanjo, Anenih replied, “why should we miss him?”
Asked if the former President was not a big loss to the party, the BoT chairman said, “to us leaders it is not a loss.”
There is nothing so far in Obasanjo’s body language to suggest he would miss the party.
