By Aminu Kutama
A former Minister of Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He made this known in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the party, lyorchia Ayu, on Monday.
In the letter of resignation the former minister expressed dismay over the emergence of a northerner, Atiku Abubakar, as the party’s presidential candidate.
Orubebe expressed displeasure over the party refusal to zone the presidential ticket, adding that it was not ready to regain power from President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in 2023.
The letter read in part, “Consequently, I am by this letter intimating you of my total withdrawal from all activities at the Ward, Local, State and National levels of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP),” he said.
“I am highly honoured and privileged to have been part of a political party that successfully transformed a pariah nation to one that commanded respect in the comity of nations.
“When we lost the Presidential election in 2015 in bewildering circumstances, to say the least, it was my belief that the party would use the opposition period to re-strategise to take back power at the earliest opportunity.”
The former minister also stated that the current circumstances in the PDP did not show that the party was ready to reclaim power in 2023 general elections.
He said, “However, the present situation in the party does not inspire confidence that the party is ready to regain power in 2023. Against the mood of the nation and in complete disregard for the provisions of the party’s constitution, the party, threw the zoning of the Presidency open, which created a situation that led to the emergence of a Northerner as the party’s Presidential flagbearer, thus making the two topmost positions in the party, after your emergence as the National Chairman, to be occupied by Northerners, contrary to section 7.3(0) of the party’s constitution,” he said.
Orubebe commende the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike “for his efforts and gallantry at the primaries. Posterity will be kind to him when the history of the party is written.”
“There are lots to be said, but out of respect for the party, I leave some stories untold at this time. My belief in the sanctity of Nigeria is unshaken and I will continually work for her progress and development, even if it is through another route”
