2nd January, 2013
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday called for unity in the Lagos State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to enhance the party’s chances in the 2015 elections.
Obasanjo made the remark while receiving the members of the Lagos State executive of the party, during a visit to him in Abeokuta on Wednesday.
The former Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of PDP, said that the leaders needed to sink their ego and sacrificed their individual interest for the general interest of the party.
“If only the leaders would sink their ego and regard the party’s interest as supreme and above that of individual, then the party will come out strong and able to wrest power from the ruling party,’’ he said.
Obasanjo, who described PDP as a party in wilderness in Lagos State, said the leaders of the party needed to work together to build the party and restore it to the right path.
He blessed the leaders and asked God to soften their hearts to be so accommodating and grant them direction to reposition the party in Lagos State.
The former PDP BOT chairman thanked the visitors, who came to commiserate with him on the recent fire incident in his house, which he described as “minor’’.
Obasanjo thanked God for confining the fire to his Secretary’s office and preventing loss of life.
The former president insisted that Nigerians had reasons to be thankful to God for the year 2012, notwithstanding some unfortunate incidents.
He, however, expressed optimism that the nation would experience some transformation in the New Year.
Briefing the media after the meeting, Mr Tunji Shelle, the Lagos State PDP Chairman, said they were in Abeokuta for three reasons. Shelle said they came to commiserate with Obasanjo on the fire disaster, to rejoice with him over the New Year, and to seek his counsel and blessing for the party.
“Baba’s advice is invaluable and we are going back to Lagos as a happy family. “We are returning to Lagos to build our party on the platform of his advice to re-launch it into recognition. ‘’