The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anenih, on Monday said former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s exit from the party was not a loss to PDP elders.
He said they would not miss the former President.
Anenih spoke with State House correspondents shortly after attending a meeting of party chiefs with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
While the meeting was ongoing, news went round that Obasanjo publicly tore his PDP membership card in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, an indication that he had finally dumped the party.
Anenih who took over from Obasanjo as the BOT chairman was initially reluctant to react to the development which obviously rattled the party chiefs.
Feigning ignorance of the development, he initially asked reporters the source of the information on Obasanjo’s action.
The following conversation later ensued:
Reporters: As the chairman of PDP’s BOT, how will you react to former President Obasanjo’s action which indicated that he had formally left your party.
Anenih: He (Obasanjo) has the right to leave any party and he has the right to join any party. He is a Nigerian.
Reporters: Will you miss him?
Anenih: Why should we miss him?
Reporters: Is Obasanjo’s exit not a big loss to PDP?
Anenih: To us leaders, it is not a loss.
He did not answer further questions as he made his way to his waiting car.
The party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, however, was evasive when reporters attempted to get his reaction.
Muazu initially pretended not to hear reporters when they approached him.
National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), however, told him that reporters were talking to him.
The party boss therefore turned to reporters, bowed, and walked briskly into the new Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa where Jonathan presided over another round of meeting with party chiefs.
