PDP Must Purge Itself Of ‘Hypocrites And Bad Eggs’ – Obasanjo

PDP Must Purge Itself Of ‘Hypocrites And Bad Eggs’ – Obasanjo

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has said that for the Peoples Democratic Party to bounce back, it must purge itself of hypocrites and bad eggs.

He also urged the leaders to shop for those he called “critical mass of committed people.”

Obasanjo said this on Sunday while receiving the PDP leaders from SouthWest led by the party’s National Vice Chairman (South West), Dr Eddy Olafeso, at his Pent-House Residence inside Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library , Oke – Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State. Obasanjo said the party needed to purge the party of “bad eggs and hypocrites”.

The former President said many leaders of the party are after their pockets and stomach, arguing that the bad eggs lacked commitment to return the party to its lost glory.

Obasanjo said Nigeria demands a vibrant voice and opposition in PDP with a view to building a virile democracy.

According to him , Nigeria cannot move forward , if we continue the way we are”.

He submitted that those set of people, “would be ready to stand with the party come rain, come shine.”

His words “I knew PDP would lose election in 2015 because it was clear. And I knew PDP will need to be rebuilt after losing the election. “You need what I call critical mass of committed people, and come rain, come shine they are committed. With that, you can make Nigeria better.

“You see peoples’ faces beautiful but you don’t know what each person harbours inside of him. If you discover a bad egg, remove such a person. And if such person has learnt his or her lessons there can still be room to accommodate the person.

“Politically speaking, you can’t be my friend if you don’t buy into the Nigeria’s project. For me, till death, I will continue to push for a better Nigeria.

“I said if you compare the two of them (referring to Atiku and Buhari); with what I know and all I have written about the incumbent which they have decided to cover up, Atiku is better than the incumbent by far. That’s the point I am making. And nobody is perfect.

“I am not a perfect person. I have my shortcomings. If I deny my shortcomings, it means I am not being truthful to myself. But, my shortcomings has nothing to do with my love for Nigeria. It has nothing to do with being greedy or selfishness.”

Earlier in his address, Olafeso described Obasanjo as loyal, upright and committed leader who is “ready to speak the truth to the power” not minding whose ox is gored. He explained that the visit was to celebrate Obasanjo on his 82nd birthday which he marked recently . “We could not have done well in the last elections in the South West without your support. Your voice resonates above all the lies told in the country and you told the world what is actually happening in your country. You decided that you are going to stand up and fight. There is nothing we can say here that would compensate the role you have played.

“You supported our presidential candidate and I know for sure that he won that election even if the powers-that-be decided to write results for themselves in the North. It is certainly sure that it is the corner you asked all of us to go that won that election and I know fully-well that God will take this thing back to our party.”

Among those at the meeting are; Senate Minority Leader, Biodun Olujimi, Senators-elect, Oyo South, Kola Balogun, Ondo Central, Ayo Akinyelure, Rep-elect (Ibarapa North and Central), Hon Ajibola Muraina, former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Minister for State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada and PDP gubernatorial candidate in Ekiti State 2018 election, Prof Olusola Eleka.

Also at the meeting are, former Deputy Governor of Lagos, Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, former Deputy National Chairman, Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedoku, PDP Governorship candidate in 2017 Ondo State Governorship election, Eyitayo Jegede SAN among others.