Chief Bode George is former Deputy Nationwide Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a member of the get together’s Board of Trustees (BoT).
On this interview, he speaks on the disaster rocking the get together, appointment of a former Minister of Particular Duties, Taminu Turaki, to mediate on the dispute, amongst different points. ANAYO EZUGWU writes
Are you able to share your ideas on the most recent disaster rocking the PDP. You’ve gotten beforehand talked about the way you imagine that on the core of the disaster is actually a conflict of personalities. Do you continue to discover that to be the case?
I used to be a part of the assembly as a result of I used to be capable of be a part of them by way of Zoom. I’ve at all times acknowledged that when you might have an issue that begins, should you don’t arrest it on time, it would develop into cancerous. It can nearly devour all people.
I imagine the stage during which we’re, no matter is occurring between the 2 secretaries, Samuel Anyanwu and the opposite former Nationwide Youth Chief, Sunday UdeOkoye, is a mirrored image of the lacklustre method to fixing this drawback.
I used to be disgusted and ashamed that this type of disaster would get to a crescendo the place our public picture as a celebration is being eroded. It was a present of disgrace, very disgraceful.
However I thank the members of the Board of Trustees, as a result of these of us who’re on-line, one way or the other when the disaster began, when individuals had been punching themselves and misbehaving, they only lower us off, so we didn’t see it once more. However my take is just this:
The contentious matter is that Ude-Okoye, who’s now appearing secretary of the get together, went to the Courtroom of Appeal and the courtroom gave him judgement that he was proper to take over the place of the nationwide secretary. However the nationwide secretary, Anyanwu, went to a different Courtroom of Appeal that mentioned establishment ante bellum be maintained.
Itis extremely miserable and really disgusting whenever you take a look at the get together, a formidable establishment, a celebration that’s like an Iroko tree on this nation, being decimated due to private ambition.
It bothers a few of us that began proper from 1998. I’ve mentioned that resolving this disaster on the midpoint doesn’t make any political sense.
Allow us to arrange a committee and I’ve made my views identified to the BoT. Because the custodian of the legal guidelines and laws in addition to liabilities and property of the get together, we should be capable to arrange a committee to enter in-depth evaluation.
What occurred? You don’t remedy an issue by beginning midpoint, considering you’ll be able to cowl up the opposite points. All sides of the divide are making us offended and what we had been saying is that we must always keep away from a horrible public picture of our get together.
Folks have began saying, oh, your get together is useless. We are saying, no, the get together just isn’t useless. We are able to disagree with out being unpleasant. We must always be capable to rise above this pettiness.
What occurred on the final nationwide conference was the start of the disaster and thus far, all sides are nonetheless very deep of their trenches, firing salvos. It’s not going to assist this nation.
The nationwide curiosity of the get together have to be a lot greater than the private curiosity of any particular person. And no particular person can ever be greater than the get together. Let these managers rise above this.
Let’s name a spade a spade. PDP is drifting, and we’re drifting very badly, like a rudderless ship. I’ll stay constant in my argument. We should go to the start of this insanity, so that it’s going to by no means repeat itself.
And I’m blissful that the members of the Board of Trustees, the elders of the get together, the custodians had been there, when this went on. However the good factor there may be that they had been capable of handle that disaster.
If we don’t rise above that pettiness, it would broaden. That is 2025, by the center of this 12 months, politics will begin, and we preserve blaming the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or Nyesom Wike.
You don’t remedy an issue by beginning midpoint, considering you’ll be able to cowl up the opposite points. All sides of the divide are making us offended
Let’s get inside and kind ourselves out with out lacking phrases. No person, no particular person is greater than the get together.
And it’s not a non-public enterprise of anyone. The essence of getting the Board of Trustees, the higher chamber of the get together, is to have the ability to resolve crises after they do happen.
That’s why within the BoT, we don’t do any elections. Individuals are appointed based mostly on their expertise, their contribution, their information, and their standing within the public.
You heard what the appearing Nationwide Chairman, Umar Damagum, was saying, that there are some leaders too, who’re covertly intervening on both A or B.
For me, we’ve got to arrange a correct committee that may extricate the mess that began on that conference day and kind it out. Anyone responsible of any critical offences have to be handled. It isn’t a non-public concern. And we should not have any apologies.
In case you are a member of an organisation, there are guidelines and laws of what it is best to do. So, comply with them. For those who can’t comply with the laws, and also you suppose you’ll be able to manoeuvre A to B to your sustenance, then we ease you out.
The BoT has already arrange a committee led by Taminu Turaki to research what transpired. Senator Adolphus Wabara is speaking about unity and self-discipline throughout the get together, did you attend the assembly and what do you concentrate on what Atiku Abubakar mentioned that it’s the APC attempting to destabilize the opposition events, harass and intimidate individuals?
Let me be very clear right here; I used to be there, not bodily, however I used to be there. I joined that assembly by way of Zoom and we had acknowledged that, sure, it is a new know-how.
If individuals can’t come into Abuja, you’ll be able to be a part of by Zoom. To start with, the executive secretary of the get together, despatched me the fallacious hyperlink.
So, I waited for about half-hour, and I couldn’t be a part of up. I referred to as the nationwide headquarters of our get together, and so they now gave me the right hyperlink.
So, I joined up. On the level that I joined up, the chairman of the Board of Trustees was nonetheless making his speech, so I wasn’t too late to affix.
I used to be there from the start. Now, we acquired lower off by the point someone bodily pushed the younger man, Ude-Okoye, the previous nationwide youth chief of the get together. They had been bodily pushing him out, and I used to be raving with anger.
I questioned: What on earth was happening; we’re touts? With the expertise, the age, and the dedication that we had had from the start of the institution of this political get together, it was disgraceful.
And my concern, and I have to state it, had been that, we’ve got to watch out due to the general public picture this may ship. If you wish to be a winner in a political setting in any nation, your public picture is essential.
Now, what are these individuals attempting to realize? If individuals are taking a look at us and saying, are you able to belief this get together? Does it imply there isn’t a disaster in APC? After all, they do have.
They’ve by no means held any assembly, no Nationwide Govt Committee assembly. Abdullahi Ganduje, who’s the chairman, was simply imposed on them. So, it’s not solely us. However for God’s sake, we are able to resolve our personal.
Throwing tantrums and pushing points just isn’t the best way to go. They are saying, oh, it’s the APC that’s doing this, the APC that’s doing that. We’re simply attempting to undermine the difficulty.
We should sit down, all sides as I’ve acknowledged. All sides of the divide, each Atiku and Wike, we have to be ready, to be daring sufficient to inform them, sufficient of this nonsense. And that’s the committee that I’ve been saying. The committee arrange now’s simply to take a look at the authorized implications.
As I mentioned to you, Anyanwu is saying that sure, there was a judgement that gave the ruling in favour of Ude-Okoye, who’s to be the nationwide secretary of the get together however he went to a different Courtroom of Appeal and the courtroom mentioned establishment ante bellum be maintained. Now, individuals began, asking: What’s the establishment ante bellum?
Individuals are saying that it’s the establishment established by the Courtroom of Appeal that gave constructive judgement to Ude-Okoye, and that Anyanwu, if he needed to do something, ought to have gone to the upper courtroom, which is the Supreme Courtroom.
You mentioned that Atiku in addition to Wike dedicated ‘political hara-kiri.’ I can perceive the place you’re coming from about Atiku however Wike is your man; you had been collectively within the G5 and Unity Group. Which hara-kiri did Wike commit and have you ever fallen aside with him?
Let me be very clear with you; we can’t wash our soiled linens in public. When you’ve got a household assembly in your own home, do you go to {the marketplace} to begin undressing yourselves?
I’m a bona fide, dedicated, devoted and trustworthy member of this get together. I gained’t open up the fields that occur.
It could be unpardonable for me to try this. If we’ve got to look earlier than a constituted get together committee, I’ll expose the whole lot to them.
But when I really like this get together, it isn’t the general public area that we open up ourselves. That’s the reason I don’t need to make any feedback now. I’m not a member of something.
On the preliminary time I used to be there, I took sides as a result of I used to be disgusted with what they did on the conference. If I let you know the position I performed in going A or B, you’ll know.
Nevertheless it’s not for me to say to the general public. That was what angered me and once I acquired to the opposite aspect, and I noticed what they had been doing, I instructed them, to settle down.
In case you are not going to settle down, I’ll come again. And I’m not a member of both of them. By no means! That ceased a very long time in the past.
You had been additionally a part of those that dedicated the hara-kiri as a result of we noticed the way you supported Wike and the way you mentioned Atiku was the issue. What has modified?
It is a misunderstanding. Let me now clarify to you. At this age, on the eighth flooring of life, do you suppose I shall be concerned with a load of nonsense? One thing occurred at that nationwide conference and I used to be utterly disgusted with what was happening.
I’ve mentioned it typically that I made my transfer based mostly on the basics that established this political get together.
The founding fathers acknowledged that they tinkered with the unique idea in Nigeria as a result of what disrupted the primary and second republics was that almost all tribes had been ruling and so they had been profitable elections. The minority tribes had been simply pure onlookers. That couldn’t proceed.
You can’t all be members of an organisation after which just one tribe will repeatedly be ruling you. That created a lot mayhem and led to the coup, the civil warfare and all that.
When these founding fathers acquired collectively, as a result of that they had skilled the form of administration we had been doing in Nigeria and the key situation is to convey all events, all tribes to be members of this nation within the administration of our nation, they determined that permit us divide Nigeria into six geopolitical zones.
So, you had the bulk tribes, the minority tribes and so they now got here up with six prime positions.
The President, the Vice President, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Nationwide Chairman of the get together that on any event, whether or not you’re majority tribe or minority tribe, you’ll go house with one in every of these six. However what occurred at our conference?
Primary, the presidential candidate went to 1 zone, the North. The nationwide chairman of the get together additionally went to the North. We mentioned, no, it will probably’t occur like that.
That was the idea of the disaster within the get together. I simply didn’t soar ship and say, I used to be going to be with Wike or we’re going to be with Atiku. I had conferences with Atiku. I had conferences with Iyorchia Ayu.
They disrupted the system, and the way would I stay there? My greatgranduncle was the primary politician on this nation. On morality, I mentioned, no, it can’t occur.
The approaching election shall be my final battle earlier than I take my depart. Any exterior intervention aside from the individuals of Lagos, we’ll resist it… if we’re going to decimate the get together, so be it
And I’m nonetheless saying it. Eight years of presidential management by the North; for the subsequent eight years, the presidential candidate should come from the South.
I used to be there one time when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was leaving as president. We had been 4 individuals, who sat at about 2.am, attempting to do the decision of the zoning. So, whenever you say, I used to be this, I used to be that, there was a cause.
Why did you cease supporting what Wike was preventing for then?
I’m not supporting anyone and that’s what I’m explaining to you. Hear, I had a gathering with Atiku.
I spent six hours with Ayu in his home in Abuja. He didn’t do what is true and he was nonetheless insisting.
I mentioned should you, Ayu, made a press release publicly that per journey, the presidential candidate comes from the North, you’ll resign however when the presidential candidate emerged from the North, you refused to resign, what are you speaking about.
He mentioned he has 4 years. I went to his home to persuade him. Then I referred to as Atiku. I mentioned look, discuss to this your brother.
They’re disrupting this technique. That’s not the best way the founding fathers set it up. If we did that to you as southerners, would you settle for it?
What just isn’t good just isn’t good, regardless of the place you belong. It’s essential to have the concern of God in no matter you’re doing.
That was the place I disagreed with them and I moved out. Then the Wike individuals got here and mentioned they had been attempting to resolve it. I joined the assembly; they made me a frontrunner.
We sat down. In the long run, once I noticed it, they mentioned now we’ve got two presidential candidates from the South. On the assembly, they mentioned that they imagine that Bola Tinubu is the higher particular person.
I mentioned, should you exit of this assembly and also you speak about it exterior there, I’ll counter you within the open. You guys do not know who this gentleman is. He had dominated my state.
We all know his modus operandi. You don’t have any concept. That was the place we parted. It’s not a matter of leaping ship and searching for laurels.
That’s the is the reality. Go and discover out. What am I searching for now that I won’t be able to take a look at you in your face and let you know the reality?
How a lot religion do you might have within the Tanimu Turaki committee to have the ability to delay the flame that has engulfed the PDP, and does he have your assist?
Now, the necessary factor is that this. The instances offered earlier than the BoT was that UdeOkoye, the incoming nationwide secretary had gone to the courtroom to get a judgement. That’s the bona fide nationwide secretary. Okay.
Now, Anyanwu went to a different Courtroom of Appeal and the courtroom acknowledged that establishment ante bellum be sustained. Now, what the BoT chairman is saying is, let this situation be examined.
The authorized situation, the established order ante bellum acknowledged by the second Courtroom of Appeal; what’s the interpretation? That’s Turaki all goes to look at as a result of he’s a lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Anyanwu is saying that the established order ante bellum established by the Courtroom of Appeal is saying that the judgement on the decrease courtroom needs to be sustained.
However the established order ante bellum interpreted by Ude-Okoye is that the judgement just isn’t referring to the judgement on the decrease courtroom however the judgement of the Courtroom of Appeal. Turaki is a longtime lawyer, so we anticipate him to be truthful, to be simply, and inform the reality.
That’s the place we are actually, which is probably the most smart, approachable, and devoted line of method on this matter. If I need to let you know to investigate what Anyanwu did; it was completely despicable.
You needed to contest for a governorship place, and it’s the secretary and the nationwide chairman who will usually signal for all candidates going to the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC). How are you going to try this and you’re nonetheless contesting. So, too many issues are fallacious.
What’s the way forward for the PDP and what’s the assure that the PDP shall be a profitable get together in 2027, notably in Lagos State, the place you the chief of the get together?
Let me let you know that I’m blissful that I’ve the chance at the moment to state emphatically that the issue in Lagos just isn’t one thing that I created.
There are too many palms and too many exterior elements that come into play right here in Lagos.
I preserve telling them, to permit all people to carry on to his personal home. You can’t know my home greater than me. It began with Atiku’s quest to manage right here and there.
How can they know my home greater than me? That has been the insanity in Lagos and also you noticed that they’ve been working for Tinubu right here in Lagos.
They’re paying the worth now and I instructed them that the approaching election shall be my final battle earlier than I take my depart.
Any exterior intervention aside from the individuals of Lagos, we’ll resist it, we’ll stop it and we’ll combat it if we’re going to decimate the get together, so be it.
They preserve inflicting crises within the get together and are available round in charge Bode George; how may you blame me!
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