Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar finally decamps to APC

The former Vice President made the
big announcement on his twitter page
today. He will formally submit a letter
tomorrow announcing he's left the
ruling party PDP for APC. See his press
statement which he posted on his
website after the cut. This next year is
going to be very interesting in Nigeria
Press Statement
by Atiku Abubakar, GCON, Turaki
Adamawa and former Vice President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria on his
Resignation from the PDP and his
Joining the APC.
In 2006, as a result of my firm stand in
defence of our constitution and our
democracy, my supporters and I were
pushed out of our party,
the Peoples Democratic Party, a party
that we worked tirelessly with other
compatriots to build as a vehicle to
restore democracy to our
country. We later returned to that
party in 2009 when a new leadership
of the party and the country promised
a new direction, a direction of
inclusiveness, of internal democracy,
of an end to impunity, adherence to
the rule of law and respect for the
dignity of members and Nigerians.
Sadly, however, those promises have
not been kept. In addition, the PDP
continues to be beset with many
crises, mostly leadership-induced
crises. It has since lost touch with
Nigerians and efforts made by many
well-meaning members and
stakeholders to bring it back to the
vision of the founders have been
rebuffed. To demonstrate the
seriousness of the challenges and
bring public attention to it I and some
other leaders and stakeholders staged
a walkout during the party's last
convention in Abuja.
As I speak, most of the issues that led
to that walk-out are yet to be
addressed. Many founding members
of the PDP, I included, continue to be
marginalized and excluded from the
affairs of the party. For instance as a
former Vice President, I am by virtue of
the PDP constitution, a member of the
party's Board of Trustees and its
National Executive
Committee. However, I am not invited
to the meetings of those organs nor
consulted on their decisions,
apparently because I dared to exercise
my right to contest in the party's
primary election for a chance to be its
flag-bearer in the 2011
elections. We have, therefore,
concluded that that party cannot be
redeemed. In short the PDP has
abandoned Nigerians, the very people
who gave it life and many electoral
victories.
More worrisome though is the danger
posed to the continued existence of
this country by this culture of impunity
and arbitrariness. We continue to
have threats from officially protected
political extremists. Increasingly our
people are recklessly being divided
along the lines of religion, ethnicity
and region for political gains. Our
history and that of many other
countries in Africa and Eastern Europe
ought to teach us that this is very
dangerous and must stop.
We can and we must do better. Our
people deserve better.
It is against this background that we
should understand the visit by
the leaders of the APC and their
invitation to me to join hands with
them to save the
country. Consequently, I have been
consulting my supporters and
associates, my family and friends for
the past few weeks. My decision may
not satisfy some of my friends and
associates. In the end, however, I
have to put the interest of our country
first. This country has done so much
for me personally and it deserves all
that we can do to help rebuild it and
serve our people better.
Following this extensive consultative
process, I have, therefore, decided to
cast my lot with the APC, a party of
changecommitted to the improvement
of the lives of our people and to
the continued existence and
development of Nigeria as one
indivisible country. My resignation
letter as a member of the PDP will be
delivered to the party tomorrow.
This is the right decision. As in 2006 it
is the struggle for democracy and
constitutionalism and service to my
country and my people that are
driving my choice and my decision. Let
me emphasize that this is not about
me. We have to have a country before
people can aspire to lead it, but as it is
today we may be losing this country.
That is not acceptable.
I encourage my political associates and
friends to register andjoin the
APC once the registration
exercise commences, so that together
we can change this country for the
better.
The process of building a nation, of
securing and deepening democracy is
indeed difficult. And it is not a lineal
process. There would be alignment
and realignment of political forces.
There would be ups and downs and
zig-zags, triumphs and
challenges. Amidst all that, patriots
must remain focused and do what has
to be done to save and build the
country and serve our people better.
That is what I have decided to do. I will
do all within my God-given powers to
help the APC win elections all over
Nigeria and bring true change to our
country and its long-suffering people.
Thank you and God bless Nigeria.
Atiku Abubakar, GCON
(Turaki Adamawa)
Former Vice President, Federal
Republic of Nigeria.