Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has maintained his earlier declaration that he will no longer engage in partisan politics.
He spoke when national Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Iyorchia Ayu, led top leaders of the party to visit him.
Obasanjo who was president on the platform of the party for two consecutive terms between 1999 and 2007 in Abeokuta said “I’m no longer in partisan politics and there is nothing that can bring me back. Anybody who wants my advice, I will always be there in the best interest of Nigeria.
“Whatever I do in my own life…because I became president on the platform of PDP, PDP will continue to be part of my life.
“Since the day I tore my PDP card, that was the day I ceased to be a member of PDP. That day I vowed not to be a member of any political party. I will continue to be a statesman.”.
It was gathered that the PDP leaders were at Abeokuta to visit OBJ for the first after the emergence of Ayu as National Chairman.
The entourage of the PDP National Chairman was made up of members of the party’s national working committee, a vice presidential candidate, a Presidential aspirant, four former governors and others.
The PDP Vice Presidential candidate in 2019 election, Peter Obi, former Governors, Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Donald Duke (Cross River) a former Presidential Aspirant, Saminu Turaki, were in the team.
Also in the entourage were the Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, Deputy National Chairman (North) Umar Damagum, the National Secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu, Secretary, Prince Mohammed Kadade Suleiman, the National Woman leader, Prof Effa Alli, National Youth Leader, Ladi Adebutu, Otunba Oyewole Fasawe m, Adamu Waziri and others.
The former President joined the PDP leaders from an inter denominational service Organised for the burial of the late Olowu of Owu, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu.
After a close door meeting that lasted over two hours, Obasanjo told his guests that he was now focused on being a statesman who could give advice when necessary.
He said that he was resolute with his vow to quit partisan politics and that would not change.
Ayu in reaction indicated that the PDP would not separate itself from the former President saying “if you leave PDP, the blood of PDP will never leave you.”
According to him, the party would always need the advice of the former President on the onerous task of governing the country.