Former Media aide to former president
Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, has
resigned his membership of former ruling
party, PDP. Doyin made the announcement
via social media. Read what he wrote after
the cut.
It is time to say Goodbye to PDP. It is
with deep regret that I publicly
announce my resignation from the
People’s Democratic Party.
It has to be public because the PDP no
longer exists in my ward as a single unified
party; it was when I joined it.
My resignation is based on periods of long
introspection and some of the following
reasons:
1. It is no longer news that the PDP has
been embroiled in a fratricidal internal
crisis brought upon it by itself.
Its current direction is difficult to discern
and I am convinced that even when the
much expected judgement from the
Supreme Court is given, the future of the
party is not likely to be significantly affected
whichever way the judgement goes.
2. There seems to be too much deception,
selfishness and gross nepotism in our
polity nationally.
During the NRC and SDP era, there existed
true nationalism and brotherhood.
Northern NRC politicians will under no
circumstance undermine their party for any
parochial reason. Also neither will a
Southern NRC politician, under any
circumstance betray their party.
Abiola was a Yoruba man, yet those of us
who were Yorubas in the NRC never once
thought of voting for him.
The commitment in the North was even
more profound. Even the Northern SDP
rejected a distinguished successful Kano
born Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Bashir
Tofa, and voted for a Southern Yoruba
muslim candidate. Worse than that, both
Abiola and his running mate, Amb. Baba
Gana Kingibe were muslims. Yet, it did not
matter.
Today, political parties have lost their
importance and identities. Once the
candidate is Northern, his party is
immaterial, all norherners irrespective of
their professed party affiliations will vote
for him.
This is the major reason why there has
been a total absence of opposition in the
country in the last two years, and may
probably be responsible for the
polarization and sharp ethnic divisions we
are currently witnessing in the country.
In the east, there is intense anger and loud
call for secession, in the south-south, there
is absolute indignation and very resolute
demand for total control of their resources,
while the south-west is bellicose and hell
bent on true federalism and restructuring
which many prominent Northerners openly
oppose for good or for bad.
Under these circumstances, political parties
have lost their flavor and
relevance.Certainly, a party like my former
party, PDP has no future in the evolving
Nigerian Political Circus.
3. This political confusion has percolate to
the states, Ogun state being one of the
worst hit.
The leadership of the party has been
irredeemably fictionalized for nearly a
decade.
Presently it is divided broadly into two
major factions. One headed by Hon Ladi
Adebutu and the other by Senator Buruji
Kashamu.
Unfortunately I do not fit into either group.
Hence it becomes extremely difficult for me
to operate as a politician under the PDP
umbrella in the state. Yet, all politics is local.
4. The situation in the country may in the
nearest future require that matured men of
goodwill standby to play a unifying role for
political stability of the country. My
membership of PDP may directly or
indirectly preclude me from gratifying such
noble and patriotic desire.
Undeniably, I have been one of the major
beneficiaries (not financially) of the PDP. But
for a fact, the PDP and the APC are political
platforms that have now expired or in the
process of being so.
Therefore, no matter my commitment and
passion for this great party, the PDP, it has
become menopausal and can no longer
bear fruits.
I have therefore decided to withdraw a bit
and study the political situation more
critically and thereafter take a decision
soonest on my next political move.
I will miss my friends, associates and co-
travelers on this tortuous political journey
and adventure. However, it is also still
possible that our paths cross in the nearest
future, which will be a delight.
But in spite of my stated pessimism, I
sincerely express my best wishes to the
more courageous party faithfuls who I am
leaving behind,and I also pray for God’s
guidance for them.
For how far I have gone, I remain eternally
grateful to Almighty God and Jesus Christ
my savior, to whom ALL powers belong. If it
is His will that I still play a role in National
Politics in future, then most certainly, and
by His grace, I WILL BE BACK.
