Ahead of the 2027 elections, Chief Olabode George, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has warned that unless the party unites and addresses the actions of individuals undermining it, there could be a disaster for the party.
George stated this while speaking at a press conference at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos on Friday.
Expressing grave concerns about the ongoing leadership crisis within the PDP, he said,
“We’ve found ourselves in our current situation due to a self-inflicted crisis. We should bury our individual ambitions now and not allow the PDP to crumble. Elders of the party should tell those funny characters to calm down. Unless we are united, with equity, fairness, and justice being the pedestal for any political decision taken, this party will be heading to disaster in 2027.”
The former Deputy National Chairman, who is also a life member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), described the recent fight over the position of the national secretary as a national embarrassment. Reflecting on the events of the 79th Board of Trustees meeting in Abuja, George said, “What happened on Wednesday during the 79th meeting of this August body in Abuja is despicable, horrific, inhuman, wicked and unheard of. The individuals who orchestrated the use of thugs to invade our party secretariat acted shamelessly, and this action must be condemned by all of us who value democracy.”
He decried the actions of some current leaders, saying they dishonour the memory and efforts of the PDP’s founding fathers. “The current leaders of the party are now dancing on the graves of some of these elders,” George said, listing Chief Solomon Lar, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Bola Ige, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, Chief Sunday Awoniyi, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and Chief Sunday Afolabi as individuals who prioritized collective interests over personal ambition.
He further warned, “The current situation arose from the actions of certain disloyal individuals within the party who are hell-bent on destroying it. I strongly believe this should also be seen as a serious offence which should not be condoned. What happened on Wednesday was horrendous, terrible and dreadful.”
Expressing outrage over the invasion of the PDP National Secretariat by thugs, George said, “We are all aware that the National Secretariat of our party in Abuja is sacred. The premises must be respected by all members and non-members. It is sacrilegious that thugs were hired to enter the premises to unleash mayhem, disrupting the 79th Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting.”
He questioned what might happen in future meetings. “If that could happen, then what do you think those who sponsored the thugs will do during National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings?” George asked.
He urged the party to enforce discipline. “I have consistently stated that those with a belligerent attitude if they are not ready to repent, should be shown the way out. As the largest party in Africa, PDP should not be turned into an ‘Agbero’ party by any member with an inordinate ambition. We have rules and regulations that govern our party.”
George emphasized that if reconciliation is not possible, those responsible for the turmoil should step aside. “If PDP indeed is serious as a party, this is the time for the party leadership to bring the two opposing factions together for a peace meeting. If they are not ready to embrace peace, they should step aside and allow the party to move past the current turmoil. Enough of this arrant nonsense.”
Calling for swift action, he said, “This is the time to show members working against our party the way out. No sentiment at all. Anything else will be suicidal.”
George condemned the attack on party officers, saying, “Decrying the situation in which party officers were attacked and dragged out of the hall by thugs, he said, ‘What a desecration of our office! This is profanity of the highest order.’”
He concluded with a stern warning to disruptive members. “Nobody is too big to be disciplined by our party. Also, nobody is too important to be expelled. Only patriotic members of our party are indispensable. If you think you are a member of our party and you are arrogantly working against us, I can tell you that your days are numbered.”
Post Views: 15
