Nigerian ex-president considers withdrawing from ruling party over financier wanted in US
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo says he will "consider withdrawing" from the country's governing party until it gets rid of a top financier wanted in the U.S. for alleged drug trafficking.
The political bombshell in the run up to 2015 presidential elections comes in a letter dated Jan. 7 and leaked to reporters Saturday.
Obasanjo cites the elevation to regional party chief of Buruji Kashamu, "a wanted habitual criminal" whose extradition has been requested by the U.S.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Kashamu has said the 2009 indictment is a case of mistaken identity and refers to his deceased brother.
President Goodluck Jonathan's People's Democratic Party has fractured over his perceived desire to run for re-election. It recently lost its majority in the House of Representatives when dozens of legislators defected to an opposition coalition.