Bode George raises terse concerns about PDP, queries Atiku’s multiple appearances on presidential ticket since 2015
As the Peoples Democratic Party is getting ready to hold its National Executive Committee (NEC) on November 28, Olabode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP too a swipe on the destructive influence of some members he described as selfish.
He made the comment while speaking at his 79th birthday celebration in Lagos, George condemning the growing trend of members working against the interest of the party, saying that some individuals had “one leg in PDP and another in the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
“He (Atiku) will be 81 in 2027 and has been contesting since 1993. This is the time for you to calm down and act like an elder,” George said.
Recalling, he said “In the build up to the 2023 presidential election, I shouted myself hoarse about the crisis which was started by the ambition of Atiku Abubakar, Iyorchia Ayu, David Mark and others. Pitiably, nobody listened.
“If I may ask again: Why is Atiku so desperate? Some of us won’t allow your desperation to destroy this party. You can even leave PDP and go to your business partner in APC. At least, you did it before.
I am bold to say it that PDP is not the private enterprise of any individual. I sat with him for hours before the 2023 elections that the right thing should be done. He refused.
“Some of our members are already working for him because of 2027. Is he the only one in PDP? Why are we not looking in the direction of the Southern part of the country for a younger candidate?
“Where is Iyorchia Ayu today? He has simply disappeared.
I can boldly say that Atiku, Ayu and others gave the opportunity for Bola Tinubu to become the president today.
Former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, was Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum. When he left, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State took over from him. Don’t we have PDP governors from the South? Why is everything in PDP skewed against the southern part of the country?
Atiku Abubakar has continued to be the party’s president candidate emeritus since 2015, even when power was supposed to shift from north to South, PDP still continue with its northerners’ domination of the South but giving its ticket to a northerner to succeed Buhari from the north.
During our last convention, Ayu was the chairman of the party. David Mark was the chairman of the convention. We all saw what they did to ensure Atiku emerged as the candidate. Why this desperation?
Elders of our party should rise above this shenanigan and talk sense into these characters. PDP cannot continue like this.
“Why can’t we learn from our past mistakes? Is this party jinxed?
Why can’t we tell all these troublemakers to go and sit down if they don’t want this party to move forward?
“The other day, Wike boasted openly and threatened Governors by saying ‘I will put fire in your state, I will put fire in your state’.
If the APC-led Federal Government that he is working for refused to sanction him for acts capable of causing insurrection in Nigeria, why can’t the PDP penalise him?”
The National Chairman of APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, has threatened to capture all states in Nigeria. We saw what they did in Edo on September 21. The same ‘capture instrumentality’ was deployed in Ondo on November 16. Ganduje is planning to deploy same strategy in Osun and Anambra before the 2027 general elections.
He did not say APC would ‘win’ these states but ‘capture’. Some of our party members are hailing him and these disloyal characters are still members of our party.
Is this a curse or is PDP jinxed?
My advice to Wike is very simple: you are my son, a political son. I am appealing to him to cool off immediately. I know he was injured by friends during the last PDP Presidential contest. But, I am advising him as a father to please take it easy. Nobody is bigger than any party. Forget what happened in the past and let us work together in the interest of this party. As a Christian, please read Matthew 6 v14 & 15. If you listen to my advice now, very soon, you will be glad you did.
“To Atiku, my advice is this. He will be 81 in 2027 and he has been contesting for the presidency since 1993. This is the time for you to calm down and act like an elder. I appeal to you in the name of the Almighty Allah that you serve to take it easy and leave everything for posterity.”