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This is coming just as Professor Wole Soyinka is set to testify before the United States Congress on the elections which his fellow Nobel Laureates have called for its cancellation and re-run.
It was gathered that many members of InterAction have been campaigning against the renewal of Obasanjo's membership following the criticisms by the European Union and other foreign observers over the elections which they described as flawed. Report checks revealed that the former President will this week, in Accra, Ghana, where the former heads of government would hold their summit, tender his resignation on the grounds that he wants to focus on domestic issues at home.
His anticipated move comes barely a fortnight after affirming that he would rejoin the Vienna-based body after quitting office. He had attended the 25th Annual Meeting of the Inter Action Council in Vienna, Austria, and had said he eagerly looked forward to rejoining the group in a few days' time, and recalled that he enjoyed his time at the Council after he left the scene as head of state in 1979.
"I very much enjoyed being a member of the council before I returned to active politics in my country, which was a great encouragement to all my former colleagues, and I am looking forward to regaining my old membership," the President had told his former colleagues.
The disquiet among many members of the group is seen as yet another move to isolate Obasanjo by some sections of the international community as a protest against what was perceived to be his role in the elections.
The body was established in 1983 by Takeo Fukuda, former Japanese prime minister, as an independent international organisation to mobilise the collective experience, energies and contacts of former national leaders in the continued service of mankind. Obasanjo's name is the 37th on the membership list though he is marked "on leave".
Obasanjo's expected exit from the group coincides with the planned testimonies of Professor Soyinka and others before the US Congress over the conduct of the elections. Expected to testify are local and foreign observers who witnessed the polls.
A negative report by the Congress may further harm the acceptance of the results by the US government.
Soyinka and fellow Nobel laureates had called for a re-run of the elections and this may not be different from the position he would canvass at the US congress. The playwright had, after the elections, addressed the press in Lagos, on behalf of 48 Nobel Laureates, saying that elections fell short of acceptable standards.
They had said: "The international and domestic monitors have determined that Nigeria's recent elections fell far short of acceptable standards, having failed the test of a free and fair ballot. We, the undersigned Nobel Laureates, are concerned that the new government lack of legitimacy increases prospects for violent conflict with serious consequences for Nigeria and the region.
Therefore, we recommend a Conference of National Unity involving government officials, civil society, religious and business leaders to discuss the current crisis and set a date within 18 months for early elections, along with electoral reform.
Our recommendation is offered in all responsibility, to help consolidate Nigeria's transition to democracy after decades of military dictatorship. It is made without prejudice to potential legal recourse by aggrieved candidates. Nor does our recommendation obviate the need for a credible enquiry into the electoral process that has undermined confidence of Nigerians in constitutionalism and the rule of law."
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