Mohammed, son of late head of state, General Sani Abacha, yesterday defected to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He contested but lost in the governorship primary election of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the run up of the 2011 elections.
The CPC has now merged with two other opposition parties to form a new party, the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Mohammed had been less visible during the merger talks but he has resurfaced lately and is seen moving round the country in the company of his late father’s Chief Security Officer Major Hamza Almustapha.
They were in the Imo state capital weekend where, together with three regional irredentists, they try to push for the unity of youths in the country.
Speaking at the PDP national Secretariat, Abuja yesterday, Mohammed said he had consulted widely with his supporters and other members of the party before taking the decision to return to the PDP saying from what he has gleaned the PDP is the right party for him in the current dispensation.
He described the PDP as the only party in Nigeria that accommodates all shades of people from across religious and ethnic divides saying it is the true party for Nigerians.
“In my initial sojourn as a politician I joined the PDP first in year 2010 and we did the best we could at that particular time. I joined when Chief (Vincent) Ogbulafor was the chairman and shortly after he was replaced by Chief Nwodo. Sometime in 2010, we decided to change our political affiliation to another party, we had a little problem at that time which in summary, I would say is due to lack of internal democracy at that particular point in time,” he said.
Abacha who assured that he will discuss other issues concerning his membership of the party in subsequent meetings said the issue of waiver and consultations with the governor of his state Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso would come later.
He however acknowledged that Kwanwaso is the leader of the PDP in the state stressing that he is not in PDP to wrest power from the governor as he said only God gives power.
Abacha who was escorted to the PDP national secretariat by throngs of his supporters held a closed door meeting with the members of the National Working committee of the party including the deputy national chairman; Uche Secondus before confirming his return to the party.
Earlier, national publicity secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, confirmed that the party has received Abacha to the fold of the party saying Abacha had been a member of the party and is now retuning to its fold.
He said the return of Abacha is part of the reconciliation efforts by the party under Bamanga which aims at bringing back all aggrieved members of the party.
Reacting to the defection of Abacha to PDP, chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), in Kano state, Dr. Mohammed Mahmood Ababakar yesterday said Abacha has not been active in the party.
“Well, he came from PDP to our party CPC, now APC and he has returned to where he came from. In politics, people will pursue interest where it pleases them. Some people will stay and stick to a party come rain, come sun and others will leave in pursuance of their personal interest,” he said.
Source: Daily Trust
