Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has resigned as chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to enable him focus more on international duties.

The former president in a statement personally signed by him on Tuesday said he had sent the letter of resignation to the chairman of the party.

According to the statement, he noted that he is pulling out of the responsibility so that he can devote more time to the international demand on him.

“I have formally sent in my letter of resignation as the Chairman of BOT of PDP to the National Chairman of the party as prescribed in the party’s constitution. I have formally requested the President to allow my bowing out and to issue a short statement to that effect” stated the letter.

He further explained that “by relieving myself of the responsibility for chairmanship of BOT of PDP, I will have a bit more time to devote to the international demand on me.”

He also noted that, stepping down as the ruling party’s leader, will give him time for mentoring. “To give some attention to mentoring across the board nationally and internationally in those areas that I have acquired some experience, expertise and in which I have something to share.”

He added that the departure from party affairs would afford him more time to develop the on-going construction of his presidential library in Abeokuta and also “mobilise and encourage investment in Nigeria and Africa.”

The resignation is coming after the just-concluded national convention of the ruling party to elect the party’s new esxecutive.

24hours to this resignation, the former president also led a delegation of party members to appeal to estranged former governor of Oyo state; Rashidi Ladoja on returning to the party.