PDP Chieftain Olabode George lambasts governors planning to join APC, vows the party will sanction Atiku and Wike for antiparty activities
By Taiwo Olapade
The former National Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olabode George, has expressed disappointment with top party members, including governors, who are planning to decamp to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
He likened their intention to one committing political suicide by jumping out of a moving train because of the unknown journey they are embarking upon.
The PDP chieftain was reacting on ARISE This Morning Show to the recent declaration of support by the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
He urged top members of the party nursing such ambitions to put them aside in the overall interest of the party and remain focused, steadfast in returning to power in 2027.
Chief Olabode George reminded them that the party remains supreme, as is the practice in South Africa, since it provided them the platform to be elected into office and become popular and relevant in the polity.
When asked if he had spoken with any of those planning to jump ship, he replied that there was no reason for that.
According to him, the ruling APC doesn’t have a vibrant structure like the PDP, noting that except for the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, no other member of the executive is known by the people.
He, however, agreed that the PDP is currently having a crack but was quick to commend the party’s Governors’ Forum for the success of the last meeting held in Ibadan.
Chief Olabode George, who described the PDP as an Iroko tree with solid roots that cannot die easily, also frowned at the visit led by the former Vice President and presidential candidate of the party in 2023, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna, asking why he should do so with the same person who defeated him in the past.
He noted that the actions of Atiku and all his allies who are members of the party under the coalition amount to antiparty activities and will be dealt with when the National Executive Committee reconvenes.
He told Atiku to bury his ambition of flying the party’s ticket in 2027, saying the PDP is not owned by him after being a candidate and failing on several occasions.
The PDP chieftain pointed out that the NEC of the party will also discuss the issue of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and others who have been found committing antiparty activities, but they will be given the opportunity to defend themselves before a decision is made.
Speaking on the formation of the G5 in the buildup to the conduct of the 2019 presidential election, Chief George explained that he was invited, like former Governor Jonah Jang and former Minister of Information Prof. Jerry Gana, but parted ways with them before the election.
