Former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, has announced his retirement from partisan politics, but warned that his action should not be misconstrued to mean his joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Attah made the announcement at a press conference organised in his honour by Akwa Ibom Liberation Coalition on Tuesday, at Darty Hotel, Uyo.
As stated by him, his reason for quitting partisan politics is based on age, which at 77 years on November 20, will have graduated him into the elder statesman’s class.
He stated at that age, he could still serve Nigeria and the society as others in that class have been doing without necessarily carrying the card of any political party; but stressed that he has always been a committed professional in politics and not a professional or career politician.
“So, I can formally state that I have quit partisan politics to play the role of an elder statesman and to continue to serve this country with love, strength, and faith with integrity to the best of my ability.
“Let nobody take this to mean that I want to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or therefore, jump to the opposite conclusion that I am going over to APC or any other party for that matter,” he stated.
He blamed the PDP's political woes on its lack of internal democracy, warning that for the party to bounce back as its current leaders claim, the party should return to the ideals of the party as propounded by the founding fathers.