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….As Makinde, Mohamed, Nwachukwu, others eulogize PDP chieftain
By Chinelo Obogo
President Bola Tinubu has revealed that he convinced a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, not to go on a self-imposed exile after he won the 2023 election.
He said this at the 80th birthday of George and launch of his memoir which took place in Lagos at the weekend through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, who represented him. The two books written by the celebrant which were launched at the occasion were titled, ‘Unfiltered: A Chronicle of Selected Speeches’ and ‘Bode Geroge: From Cradle to the Seas to the Podium.’
Tinubu said: “Chief George made a vow on national television that he would go into exile if I became President of Nigeria. I pleaded with him to have a child’s heart, because we would all remain in Nigeria and work together to achieve the peaceful and prosperous nation of our collective dreams. Since I became President, Chief George has been very gracious, offering advice and suggestions where necessary through many of his interventions on national issues. I find many of his suggestions very valuable and enriching. Politically, Chief Olabode George and I have been on opposite sides since 1999. But that has never diminished my admiration for him as a leader in Nigeria and in Lagos, our home state. I know the respect has always been mutual.”
Speaking on his life experiences, George said he realised that no nation can be built on anger of divisions and urged leaders to prioritise the country’s interests above personal ambitions, describing unity as the recipe to build the country.
“At 80, I have learned that no nation is built by anger or division. Nations are built by hope, by love, and by a collective will to rise above selfish hatred. I urge our leaders across all divides to place Nigeria first, to remember that our children, our grandchildren will inherit whatever we build or we destroy. Let us build a Nigeria where truth is not punished, where competence is rewarded, and where the weak are not forgotten. Let us build a nation where unity is not just a slogan but a life reality. To the young people of this country, my sons and daughters, and the future of this great country, I say this with love. Do not give up on Nigeria,” George stated.
Other dignitaries who were at the event took turns to commend George. Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, said that Chief George intervened when he was nursing the ambition of becoming governor.
He revealed that he faced restrictions from other contenders, accusing the then Minister of Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, of attempting to prevent him from using the Eleyele parade ground for his governorship declaration.
“In 2014, I started nursing the ambition of becoming the governor of Oyo State, and I was planning a public declaration. We chose the Monogram in Ibadan, but people within the party thought Seyi was only joking. I was up against a group at that time. Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, who was the Minister of Defence, made arrangements that led to the military withdrawing the approval earlier granted to us.
“They said there would be no public declaration at Eleyele Monogram. So I ran to Baba and said, ‘This is PDP fighting PDP, why don’t you want me to make my public declaration?’ Baba called everyone, and on the eve of the declaration, the approval was restored. I made the public declaration, and that was the beginning of the journey that has brought me here today as the governor of Oyo State,” he said.
The chairman of the occasion, General Ike Nwachukwu (Rtd), who was represented by Dele Ogedengbe recalled his days with the celebrant since 1967 at University of Lagos, noting George was a shining example to many of his contemporaries.
“In all his life, he has demonstrated remarkable resilience. He went through a lot, he was prosecuted and imprisoned before he was exonerated by the Supreme Court and yet he remained focus,” Ogedengbe said, while Bauchi Governor, Mohammed said George is a cerebral personality who redefined the status of Nigerian Port Authority, NPA. “He is a detribalized Nigerian who has mentored many of us,” he said.
