The former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, warned on Friday that the 2027 elections would be disastrous for the former ruling party unless its leaders unite and wield the big stick on characters bent on pulling down the structure.
He gave the warning at a news conference at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos.
George was reacting to the party’s lingering leadership crisis.
He said: “We have found ourselves in our current situation due to a self-inflicted crisis. We should bury our ambition now and not allow the PDP to crumble.
“Elders of the party should tell those funny characters to calm down.
“Unless we are united, with equity, fairness, and justice being the pedestal for any political decision taken, this party will be heading to disaster in 2027.”
George, a dedicated life member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), said he was compelled to sound the alarm in a matter requiring urgent attention in the party.
He described the fight over the position of national secretary as a national embarrassment and shame.
“What happened on Wednesday during the 79th meeting of this August body in Abuja is despicable, horrific, inhuman, wicked, and unheard of.
“The individuals who orchestrated the use of thugs to invade our party secretariat acted shamelessly and this action must be condemned by all of us who value democracy.
“It is disheartening that the PDP, the bastion of civility, humility, decorum, harmony, and respect for the rule of law since 1998 when it was formed by elders, seems to be losing these values,” the PDP chieftain added.
According to him, the founding fathers of the party did not allow their personal interests to overshadow the collective interests of the party.
He listed some of the founding fathers as Chief Solomon Lar, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Bola Ige, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, Chief Sunday Awoniyi, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and Chief Sunday Afolabi.
George lamented that the current leaders of the party were now dancing on the graves of some of these elders.
He said that the current situation arose from the actions of certain disloyal individuals within the party who are hell-bent on destroying it.
“I strongly believe this should also be seen as a serious offence which should not be condoned. What happened on Wednesday was horrendous, terrible, and dreadful.
“We are all aware that the National Secretariat of our party in Abuja is sacred. The premises must be respected by all members and non-members.
“It is sacrilegious that thugs were hired to enter the premises to unleash mayhem, disrupting the 79th Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting.
“If that could happen, then what do you think those who sponsored the thugs will do during National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings?
“I have consistently stated that those with a belligerent attitude if they are not ready to repent, should be shown the way out.
“As the largest party in Africa, PDP should not be turned into an ‘Agbero’ party by any member with an inordinate ambition. We have rules and regulations that govern our party,” George concluded.
