The old statesman and founding member of the Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, criticized former vice president, Atiku Abubakar and former president of the Senate, David Mark for “ruining” the PDP and aligning with the Alliance for the Democratic Congress (ADC) Coalition. He said that the coalition is promoted by personal ambition, not by the collective interest of Nigeria.
George, in an exclusive interview with Sunday TribuneHe described the coalition as illogical, bad weather and lacking substance. He questioned the justification behind his departure from the PDP, especially at a time when the party had resolved its internal crisis.
Prominent politicians, including Atiku Abubakar, the former governor of the state of Anambra, Peter Obi, and his counterparts of Kaduna, Rivers and the states of OSun, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amachi and Rauf Aregbesola, respectively, formally adopted the ADC as their coalition platform in Abuja.
Reacting to the alliance, George said: “If it is not an aggrandizement to himself, what are they fleeing? If his roof is dripping, would he run away from the house? It doesn't matter.”
He expressed his disappointment for his decision to leave the PDP and form a coalition to expel President Bola Tinubu, instead of staying to build the party.
“Is the PDP and the formation of a coalition the correct way to send President Tinubu out of office?” He asked.
In addition, he said: “They have divided the house they built, and that means that they are pursuing personal ambition, not the corporate interest of this country. What is ATIKU looking for in the coalition? What is David Mark looking for? They cause the disaster in the last national convention. They do not need a title to see that it is illogical. Will that work?
However, he asked them to return to the PDP to help rebuild the nation.
“Everyone should return and help rebuild the broken walls of this nation. In the PDP, we have resolved our crisis. This is not the right time to get away. They are people who have benefited immensely from the part. One was the number two man in Nigeria. Another, who claims to be the president of action, was the number three? Enemy?
“Now that we have resolved our crisis and we are establishing ourselves to build the unit, they are out of forming a coalition. An Iroko tree not only sprouts and falls into the mountain. It does not matter the storm, the Iroko remains high. Maybe Bola Tinubu has gone to consult a Babalawo (herbalist), and that is what disturb them and makes them irrationally.
“Our party does not have a single person who possesses it. He is just a member like everyone else. He has to redefine his position. According to the reports, Bola has told him to go and deliver the state of FCT and Rivers, and says he is still working there.”
“Let the next meeting of NEC arrive; decisions will be made. For me, this coalition is not a problem. Everything is selfish and self -aggrandizement. At a time when we should talk about corporate existence and sustenance of common Nigerians, they are not doing that. Nigerians will decide,” he concluded.