The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has told former President Olusegun Obasanjo that it will not die because of his absence.
The party said it will not force former Obasanjo, a former leader of the party, to return as its member.
It said it would respect the decision of the former President, but added that whether he returned or not, it would stand tall.
The former President had earlier in the week, vowed never to return to the party, saying he would rather remain a statesman, working for the interest of the nation.
He addressed newsmen after a closed door meeting with the National Caretaker Chairman of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Abeokuta.
The spokesperson for the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, reacting, said Obasanjo had earlier said that he would not return to the party, adding that as an individual, the party would respect his views.
He said, “He has said it before ( that he won’t return to the party ). We are not going to force him. No individual is bigger than the party.
“Obasanjo has the right to hold his opinion. But the PDP will not die, whether he joins us or not.
“We respect his opinion. There’s nothing to say more than that . He is an individual and we respect him.”