A former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs under President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Godsday Orubebe, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Orubebe announced his resignation in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the opposition party, Sen. lyorchia Ayu, on Monday.
In the letter, the ex-minister expressed dismay over the emergence of a northerner, Atiku Abubakar, as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections.
The letter reads, “I write to formally inform you of my resignation from the PDP. This I have communicated to the Chairman of Burutu Ward 3, Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, effective 20. June 2022.
“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 PDP.
“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 with the aim of taking back power at the earliest opportunity.
“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(c) of the party’s constitution.
“I salute and commend the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, 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.”
