Obasanjo to PDP Leaders: Rid yourselves of bad eggs, hypocrites

Ebun Francis|

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday urged the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Southwest to purge the party of “bad eggs and hypocrites,” if the party wants to restore its lost glory.

The former president who spoke when he played host to PDP leaders from Southwest, led by the party’s National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Dr. Eddy Olafeso, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, said many leaders of the party are after “their pockets and stomach.”

Wondering why some top echelon of the party left shortly after the results of the 2019 presidential election was announced, the elder statesman noted that the country demands a vibrant voice and opposition in PDP, with a view to building a virile democracy.

Obasanjo said, ”for PDP to bounce back, it must purge itself of hypocrites and bad eggs, and shop for those he called “critical mass of committed people,” who will be “ready to stand with the party, come rain, come shine.”

“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 people’s 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.”

Comparing PDP presidential candidate in the 2019 election, Atiku Abubakar, with President Muhammadu Buhari, Obasanjo said, “If you compare the two of them, 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.”

PDP leaders who attended the meeting include, 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, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada; and PDP gubernatorial candidate in Ekiti State 2018 election, Prof. Olusola Eleka,

Also at the meeting were, former Deputy Governor of Lagos, Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele; former Deputy National Chairman, Shuaibu Oyedokun; PDP governorship candidate in 2017 Ondo State governorship election, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), among others.