A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Vincent Ogbulafor, caused consternation when he appeared at the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja on Friday.
Many political stalwarts in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have jumped ship less than one month after the party was defeated in the presidential election.
Many had though that Ogbulafor’s visit to the APC secretariat was in line with the massive defections in the party which is fast turning into an exodus.
It was an irony of some sort because it was thesame Ogbulafor as chairman of the vanquished PDP that boasted that the party would still be in power in Nigeria in the next 60 years.
However, the former national chairman of the PDP told newsmen he still remained in the PDP. He said he was at the APC secretariat to felicitate with the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on the emergence of Buhari as president-elect.
Ogbulafor was quick to shift the blame of the terrible fall from grace to grass of the political behemoth to the crisis that rocked the governor’s forum.
according to him, the party lost because of the the the dismantling of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
On his much-vaunted boast that the PDP would rule the nation for 60 years, he said: “Well, when they dismantled governors’ forum what do you expect?”
excerpts of Ogbulafor’s interaction with Journalists are reproduced hereunder.
We are surprised to see you here sir.
I just came back to town yesterday and I came to congratulate my friend, the chairman of APC, for a job well done.
Don’t you think some of your party (PDP) members might read meanings to your presence at the APC secretariat?
How can they feel offended? I am still in PDP.
Are you considering joining APC?
Not yet. Even if I will, not yet.
How do you feel about General Buhari’s victory at the poll?
I am very happy.
But sir, we recall that you were the one who said PDP would rule for 60 years….
Well, when they dismantled governors’ forum what do you expect?
But why you are coming to associate with the APC?
Am I not a Nigerian? Yes, I am a Nigerian.
Won’t it be treated as anti-party activity by your party?
I am a Nigerian. APC has produced the president of this country and I have to congratulate him for a job well done.
Are you still in PDP?
Why not?
How soon should we be expecting you in the APC?
I have been a Minister, National Secretary of PDP and also National Chairman. I will remain in PDP until it becomes necessary to make a change.
