A prominent elder statesman and senior member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to reconsider his presidential ambition, mentioning his age and past privileges.
During an exclusive interview on News Central’s Tonight, George questioned Atiku’s leadership competencies, suggesting that an inability to resolve internal PDP crises reflects poorly on his capacity to govern Nigeria.
“I am pleading with my brother. I am pleading with him. Let him look back. Look, by 2027, he’s going to be 81 years old. Why can’t he wait? Why can’t he just? He’d be number two in this country,” George beseeched.
He also stressed that being the Vice President is a “privileged position” and probed Atiku’s ambition for more.
On Atiku’s choice to quit the party. George described Atiku’s move as “irresponsible and greedy,” declaring that it stemmed from his insistence on being the party’s flag bearer.
“The fact that you are able to sit down to discuss and come out with a resolution is a measure of your competence. Suppose you are able to manage such crises in your party. In that case, if you get out, Nigerians will trust that you can make amends and resolve the crisis of this country,” he argued.
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He condemned Atiku’s rationale for leaving, labelling it “existential imbecility” and “utter nonsense” if motivated solely by a yearning for a specific position.
George highlighted the importance of communal decision-making within a political party. “You know, sometimes you win some, sometimes you lose some. That is the essence of working together. It’s not a private fiefdom of anybody,” he stated.
The one-time chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority also refuted the idea of PDP’s collapse, he stated, “The Iroko political party can never go under and will not go under because of the ambition of one individual. Never!”
He assured Nigerians that the party remains “solidly on ground” and is preparing for future conventions to present an appropriate leader from the South. “You will see us back in our full scheme,” he concluded, expressing confidence that the PDP would convince Nigerians of its renewed strength.
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