The Northern Emancipation Network, a nongovernmental organisation operating from the northern part of Nigeria, has described former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tearing of his PDP membership card publicly as non-statesmanlike.

The group said Mr. Obasanjo has, by his action, set a bad precedence.

Mr. Obasanjo had on Monday ordered the PDP chairman in his ward to tear his membership card.

Mr. Obasanjo then declared he was no longer a politician, but a statesman.

However, in a statement signed by its National Leader, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, on Wednesday, the northern group said by ordering the shredding of his PDP membership card, Mr. Obasanjo only succeeded in making himself appear like a motor park tout.

“As a direct beneficiary of the opportunity offered by the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Obasanjo ought to have respected the sanctity of the party’s membership card,” Mr. Suleiman said.

He said the public should not see Mr. Obasanjo as a role model but as a direct enemy of Nigeria.

“The nation should note that Obasanjo is only pursuing a personal dangerous agenda for the setting up of an Interim National Government which he hopes to lead.