Former Vice President Atiku Abubakarfinally 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..
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.