Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, expressed concerns that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s presidency in 2023 would have brought instability to Nigeria.
During an appearance on Arise Television, George revealed that Atiku’s emergence as the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election could have led to significant problems, including an unstable polity, because of his ethnicity. The PDP chieftain argued that most Nigerians were yearning for a power shift to the south after former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year stint at the helm.
George stated that the choice of Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate, while the PDP’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, also hailed from the north, created deep divisions within the party. “By the time Ayu left, he should have left long before the election. There was an agreement. It was the emergence of Atiku from the north as a presidential candidate that completely disorganised the norm of the party,” George said.
He further elaborated on the issues that arose from Atiku’s candidacy, noting, “The moment we interfered with it, manipulating the whole process to satisfy Atiku, that’s where the problem started. For us to pretend as if there was not a problem, we are just wasting time. Let us stand by the truth because it is only the truth that would liberate you. When we had that election, we divided the party (PDP) into two.”
George emphasized the challenges that would have arisen if Atiku had won the election in 2023. “If Atiku had won, I would have stayed in my house because I know for real that in future he would collapse. This country would never accept. If he had won that election you think this country would have been stable? Because somebody from the north had just finished eight years and our own norm is that after the eight years, the presidential candidate must come to the south. Those who are running around for appointments, we wish them best of luck,” he stated.
Addressing the current state of the PDP, George noted that the party is embroiled in deeper problems, with three factions fighting for control. He expressed scepticism about the party’s ability to address the ongoing challenges, stating that the PDP has no moral authority to criticize the current government’s actions.
George also declined his appointment to the Disciplinary Committee, which was set up to sanction members accused of working against the party in the 2023 general elections. He refused to serve under Chief Tom Ikimi, the committee’s chairman, citing differences in party hierarchy and experience. “I know Tom very well, he met me in this party. The founding fathers handed over to us. So the culture of the party, the do’s and don’ts are with us. So you don’t make me be a member under somebody that I know in terms of hierarchy of the party, and say I should go and serve under him,” George explained.
He concluded with scepticism about the effectiveness of the committee, saying, “Just setting up a committee, where will it lead you?”