By Munachimso Obienyi
Nigeria’s polity environment appears to be heating up as both camps of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party, yesterday, engaged in clash of words over Peter Obi’s acrimonious departure from the PDP.
Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and formerly a presidential aspirant on the PDP platform, resigned from the party, citing recent developments within the party that made it practically impossible to continue participating and making such constructive contributions.
“Our national challenges are deep-seated and require that we each make profound sacrifices towards rescuing our country. My commitment to rescuing Nigeria remains firm, even if the route differs.
“I am writing to inform you of my resignation from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which was conveyed to the Chairman of Agulu Ward 2. Anaocha LGA.”, Obi had stated.
However, in a programme monitored by NwafoLive, the Head, PDP, Presidential Campaign Council, Kola Ologbondiyan, explained that Obi was aggrieved by the PDP chapter in Anambra State, adding that there was no room for the PDP to manage his exit.
“I do not think we missed the golden chance and I will say I had the opportunity to manage the exit of Obi, but he took a walk away from the party. What transpired was a domestic moment and not from the National level and I think he felt aggrieved going by what happened in his state and left the party and so there was no room per se to manage the exit of Obi.
If people feel that Obi is the face and they are discontent with other parties, it will be funny to me because he is a part and parcel of the established party (PDP). He only took a walk over a disagreement”, Ologbondiyan said.
He further added, “If you leave your party and go to another party, it does not necessarily mean that in totality you would strongly affect the fortunes of that party you initially belonged to. Most people in the PDP are traditionally PDP members and they function in a manner that no matter what happens, they will stick to their party.”
“You also discover that traditional politicians have not left their party notwithstanding the disagreements. New parties have always come up in the past but I have an understanding and it is even a global understanding that in every country you go to, there are two political parties which give the people an opportunity of choice at an election”.
Responding to Ologbondiyan’s comment, the Spokesperson, Third Force Movement, Labour Party, Chris Nwaokobia, stated that his comments about Obi acrimonious departure was false as the PDP were categorically into votes buying and racketeering.
“2023 will become a republic for the candidate and that is the person who connects with the Nigerian people, the person who shows competence, capacity, commitment and passion for a new dawn.”
“The reason he left the PDP was because he wasn’t ready to buy votes and having talked about a need for a nation that is responsible, accountable and a nation that understands that the masses’ money has to be spent on credible infrastructures and that there is a need for frugality.”
“Nigerians are asking for a new deal and Peter Obi resonates across every wavelength. It has gone past an Anambra man to a prime Nigerian candidate”, Nwaokobia said.
