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The former Vice President made the big announcement on his twitter page
today. He will formally submit a letter tomorrow announcing he's left
the ruling party PDP for APC. See his press statement which he posted on
his website after the cut. This next year is going to be very interesting in Nigeria
Press Statement by Atiku Abubakar, GCON, Turaki Adamawa and former
Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria on his Resignation from the
PDP and his Joining the APC.
In 2006, as a result of my firm stand in defence of our constitution
and our democracy, my supporters and I were pushed out of our party,
the Peoples Democratic Party, a party that we worked tirelessly with
other compatriots to build as a vehicle to restore democracy to our
country. We later returned to that party in 2009 when a new leadership
of the party and the country promised a new direction, a direction of
inclusiveness, of internal democracy, of an end to impunity, adherence
to the rule of law and respect for the dignity of members and Nigerians.
Sadly, however, those promises have not been kept. In addition, the
PDP continues to be beset with many crises, mostly leadership-induced
crises. It has since lost touch with Nigerians and efforts made by many
well-meaning members and stakeholders to bring it back to the vision of
the founders have been rebuffed. To demonstrate the seriousness of the
challenges and bring public attention to it I and some other leaders
and stakeholders staged a walkout during the party’s last convention in
Abuja.
As I speak, most of the issues that led to that walk-out are yet to
be addressed. Many founding members of the PDP, I included, continue to
be marginalized and excluded from the affairs of the party. For
instance as a former Vice President, I am by virtue of the PDP
constitution, a member of the party’s Board of Trustees and its National
Executive Committee. However, I am not invited to the meetings of
those organs nor consulted on their decisions, apparently because I
dared to exercise my right to contest in the party’s primary election
for a chance to be its flag-bearer in the 2011 elections. We have,
therefore, concluded that that party cannot be redeemed. In short the
PDP has abandoned Nigerians, the very people who gave it life and many
electoral victories.
More worrisome though is the danger posed to the continued existence
of this country by this culture of impunity and arbitrariness. We
continue to have threats from officially protected political
extremists. Increasingly our people are recklessly being divided along
the lines of religion, ethnicity and region for political gains. Our
history and that of many other countries in Africa and Eastern Europe
ought to teach us that this is very dangerous and must stop.
We can and we must do better. Our people deserve better.
It is against this background that we should understand the visit by
the leaders of the APC and their invitation to me to join hands with
them to save the country. Consequently, I have been
consulting my supporters and associates, my family and friends for the
past few weeks. My decision may not satisfy some of my friends and
associates. In the end, however, I have to put the interest of our
country first. This country has done so much for me personally and it
deserves all that we can do to help rebuild it and serve our people
better.
Following this extensive consultative process, I have, therefore,
decided to cast my lot with the APC, a party of changecommitted to the
improvement of the lives of our people and to the continued existence
and development of Nigeria as one indivisible country. My resignation
letter as a member of the PDP will be delivered to the party tomorrow.
This is the right decision. As in 2006 it is the struggle for
democracy and constitutionalism and service to my country and my people
that are driving my choice and my decision. Let me emphasize that
this is not about me. We have to have a country before people can aspire
to lead it, but as it is today we may be losing this country. That is
not acceptable.
I encourage my political associates and friends to register andjoin
the APC once the registration exercise commences, so that together we
can change this country for the better.
The process of building a nation, of securing and deepening democracy is
indeed difficult. And it is not a lineal process. There would be
alignment and realignment of political forces. There would be ups and
downs and zig-zags, triumphs and challenges. Amidst all that, patriots
must remain focused and do what has to be done to save and build the
country and serve our people better.
That is what I have decided to do. I will do all within my God-given
powers to help the APC win elections all over Nigeria and bring true
change to our country and its long-suffering people.
Thank you and God bless Nigeria.
Atiku Abubakar, GCON
(Turaki Adamawa)
Former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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