Benin city – A member of the Board of Trustees and National Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia has withdrawn his membership of the Party.
In a letter addressed to the National Secretary of the PDP, Abuja, made available to The Nigerian Observer yesterday, which he personally signed, Dr. Ogbemudia stated that his withdrawal from the PDP takes effect from Tuesday, January 19, 2016, adding however, “I am grateful for the immense opportunity the PDP afforded me for National Service”.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ogbemudia in a related development has explained why he decided to dump the PDP. In a separate letter the elderstatesman and two-time Governor of the defunct Midwest and Bendel State deposed as follows:
“I feel obliged to communicate a recent decision of mine regarding my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in which I was a member of the Board of Trustees.
“At the dawn of this Republic, the PDP was conceived by like minds of which I was honoured to be one, as a Pan-Nigeria Political Party with a broad and liberal national outlook with emphasis on the people’s welfare, hence its operative motto, POWER TO THE PEOPLE, and thorough-going inclusiveness.
“Every organization does have its fair share of turbulence but over time, the party was taken over by a powerful minority who held the party to ransom with ideas and motives which were grossly at variance with the noble intentions of the founding fathers.
“I have remained a firm believer that goodwill would eventually prevail, and I have accordingly kept faith with the party inspite of personal indignity and affront.
“My resolve to remain in PDP was more deeply entrenched after the last Presidential Election which the PDP lost. It was my conviction that the PDP should regroup and convert to a viable alternative as a means of fostering our nascent democracy. This informed my membership revalidation in August 2015. Political analysts observed and I agree that the nation still needs a responsible governing party and a viable opposition to serve as a counterpoint to monitor and help to produce viable plans to move Nigeria forward.
“However, recent developments within and non-cohesiveness in matters affecting the party informed me to withdraw my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. This decision I have already communicated to the hierarchy of the party alongside my gratitude and appreciation for the privilege this membership afforded me to serve in different capacities.
“This statement serves to formally inform the public, associates, friends and well wishers of my decision, some of whom are already aware and strongly supported my withdrawal.
“I reaffirm my belief in the democratic form of government and all the institutions that help sustain it including the evolution of a political party system with viable entities competing on the basis of programmes relevant to the peoples welfare, ” he concluded.

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