•Report by Mudasir Opeyemi
The former deputy national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George has said that he will not vote for Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate, unless a Southerner becomes the national chairman of the party.
Chief Bode George made this declaration while featuring on Arise News TV on Tuesday insisting that the current chairman of the party, Iyorcha Ayu must resign.
The PDP chieftain has been one of the loudest voices calling for the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu as the party’s national chairman claiming that the PDP presidential candidate and national chairman cannot be from the same region an issue that has deepened the crisis in the party.
Speaking on the matter, George said PDP’s internal wrangling can be solved by giving “to Caesar what belongs to Caesar”.
He added that the south-west has not held the position of national chairman since the party was founded and it must be corrected before the 2023 elections.
“It is not a solution that cannot be handled. All we are saying is give what belongs to Caesar to Caesar. Give us what belongs to us. Turn by turn Nigeria limited,” he said.
“Take for example, what I am angry about is, the first chairman was the late Solomon Lar from North-Central. The second chairman, North-Central. The third chairman, Audu Ogbe, was from North-Central. The fourth chairman, Amadu Ali, from North-Central; Kawu Baraje, from Kwara, was also North-Central. Now you have Ayu, also North-Central.
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“The South-West has never enjoyed this position since the party started almost 25 years ago. What is our crime? If you are telling us you want to rule this country, you have to weave all the tribes and all the people together.
“That is the major problem, and unless that is resolved, I will not vote for our own candidate. All the other candidates in my state we will handle.
“Let them reason that inclusivity is not negotiable. Every Nigerian is important for this election,” he said
Speaking further,Chief Bode alleged that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, is not an indigene of Lagos State.
According to him, the APC candidate has yet to prove his Lagos roots beyond a reasonable doubt, having failed to produce any evidence to support his claim.
“Tinubu is not from Lagos State. You can quote me. If he says he grew up in Isale-Eko, which school did you attend? I grew up on Evans Street in Lagos. 35 Evans Street was my grandfather’s house. I went to the community school. I played football at the local stadium at Isale-Eko. That’s how people knew me,” he said