Former President Obasanjo turns down pleas to help revive PDP

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has rebuffed repeated pleas from concerned member of the Peoples Democratic Party to help revive the party following its defeat in the March 28 presidential election.

The Former president told those mounting pressure on him that rather than returning to the party he would encourage viable opposition from other standpoints.

''I'm done with party politics here on earth and in heaven. Period,'' Mr. Obasanjo was overheard telling a PDP chieftain who telephoned him recently to raise the matter.

Mr. Obasanjo told Premium Times in a telephone interview that he has been under pressure to return to the PDP but vowed not to do so.

''I'm not ready to discuss partisan politics because I’m done with it,'' he said.

But Mr. Obasanjo told Premium Times he has foreclosed any possibility of returning to the PDP.

''I agree that Nigeria needs a strong and viable opposition and I will continue to encourage that.  I will continue to do that even without belonging to a political party. I have moved beyond party politics,'' the former President said.