Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George on Thursday said the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar may lose the 2023 presidency with the ongoing rancour in the party.
He said if the imbalance in the PDP was not corrected, the PDP might lose millions of votes in the south, saying that the only remedy was for the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu to resign before the forthcoming elections.
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday in Lagos, George “My advice to HE. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is that he needs the votes of the millions of Southerners and that by leaving Dr. Ayu to remain the National Chairman of the party at this time is a high price to pay and a gamble that most likely will cost the PDP another election loss at the next polls.
“We must, therefore, objectively defend the interest of our party. What can be greater than peace? It is when our party is united, peaceful, focused and organised that we can take the country back from the All Progressives Congress (APC),” George said.
He stated that Ayu promised openly, before the presidential primary in May, to resign, if the presidential candidate emerged from the North.
“So, why has he refused to honour his words? Why is he reneging? What is driving his reluctance not to resign? We are promising Nigerians that when we get to government, every tribe will have a say in government but now, how do we want Nigerians to trust us when we cannot fulfil a simple promise? Our National Chairman made a pledge and in such a short time he has broken the pledge,” he added.
According to George, he was compelled to address a “‘clear and present danger’ that might thwart this window of opportunity afforded the PDP.”
He added that the PDP, with the issue over the chairmanship seat, among others, is at the precipice of a dangerous looming crisis.
He described himself as committed PDP leader and accused some party leaders of being directly or indirectly, responsible for the present crisis in the fold.
“because of their flawed personal interests, which are targeted at disrupting the unity of our great party.”
“Our party, PDP, is at the precipice of a dangerous looming crisis, if pending critical issues are not urgently addressed. Party unity and inclusiveness of all members are ingredients to a viable strategy for our election victory.”
“Pitiably, some of our leaders are, directly or indirectly, responsible for the present crisis in the party because of their flawed personal interests, which are targeted at disrupting the unity of our great party,” he said.
“I want our party members to know that as one of the party’s fathers and as a former Deputy National Chairman of our party, it is not in my character to belittle the interest of our party but when issues arise that may dent the progress of our party one has to speak out and speak loud enough to arrest the attention of our people.
“Aside from the fact that I retired as a Navy General with postings all over this country, I am nationalistic by blood, orientation and global view.
As a tireless defender of democracy; I have always fought for equity and justice for all with respect to the constitution of this nation and our party. I have never left our party, no matter the situation that besets me.
“In addition, I have no iota of tribalism in my blood, but will continue to fight tirelessly to ensure inclusiveness for all Nigerians in the political process of this country and especially in this party where some of us have suffered great injustice for the fight of equity and justice for all.
“While I reiterate my solidarity to the tenets of our party constitution, I will not remain passive when the collective unity of this party is fragmented.
How we collectively address the issues at stake will be a major determinant of the fate of this party at the next general elections,” he added.
