by Kolapo Olapoju

A national leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has been taken to the cleaners by a group known as the ‘Concerned Founding Elders of the PDP in Lagos’.

On behalf of the founding elders, Prof. Tunde Olayinka, released a statement on Wednesday, February 18, chastising Bode George for speaking against former president, Olusegun Obasanjo after his departure from the ruling party in controversial and dramatic fashion.

According to the group, the former Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, was given everything he owns by Obasanjo, despite not being worthy.

The founding elders of the PDP in Lagos and the SouthWest, say Bode George was imposed on the party by the former president, and therefore lacks the right to criticise him.

The PDP chieftain was also accused of deceiving President Jonathan in order to benefit from the rift between him and Obasanjo, adding that he is an ingrate who is quick to switch allegiance to whomever is in power.

Below is the release by the group:

“We the Concerned Founding Elders of the PDP in Lagos would like to respond to the disgraceful and embarrassing public utterances of Olabode George to the former President and National Leader of the PDP, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Whilst we are shocked at Chief Obasanjo’s action since an elder statesman is expected to display a level of political maturity, we condemn in totality the words of Bode George who called the former President an ingrate. Bode George himself is the ingrate not Obasanjo.”

“He lacks the moral right to insult the National Leader of the PDP and his benefactor and former godfather. The Yorubas have an adage that a River that forgets its source will dry up forever. Obasanjo made Bode George who he is today and sharoened his teeth which Bode is now using to bite him. We want to recall that Bode george met us in the PDP in Lagos. He did not attend the April 1999 convention in Jos which delivered Obasanjo.”

“When Bode George joined the PDP, he used to carry Dapo Sarunmi’s bag for him as his boy. At the time, Dapo Sarunmi was the PDP arrowhead in Lagos. At the PDP Congress in October 1999 held at no 1 Akilo street, Ikeja, Obasanjo sent a directive to the delegates that Bode George should be imposed as the National SouthWest Vice Chairman of the Party and Alhaji Murtala Ashorobi should be the Lagos State Chairman of the party. There was no election and everybody rejected Bode George who was unknown to us at the party. He was not a politician and was not active in the party. He was just Sarunmi’s messenger.”

“That day, there was bloodshed and Bode George was smuggled out into his car when irate party members tried to smash his head with a car jack. They broke the windscreen of his car. We rejected the imposition and saved Bode’s life. If we knew he would become the dictatorial monster playing God in the PDP today, we would have allowed them to tear him to pieces that day.”

“Dapo Sarunmi left the position of the National Vice Chairman to become a Federal Minister at the time. Obasanjo told everybody that Bode was his eyes and ears and anybody that didnt want Bode should leave the PDP. It was that bad. Had Bode risen through the party hierarchy as required, he would not be such a despot who has no respect or understanding for democratic norm. He presides over the Lagos PDP affairs with military precision to intimidate and enslave PDP members. He sidelines committed party leaders and elders.”

“Dr. Yomi Finnih and his massive followership left the Lagos PDP because of him. Bode George deceives the president that all is well in the Lagos PDP. He invites his loyalists and claims they are the PDP elders and leaders to meet the President and lie to the President that they are united in the PDP in Lagos. He makes sure he excludes anyone who will stand for the truth and expose the deceit, falsehood and oppression in the Lagos PDP.”

“Imagine how Obanikoro had to fight for himself. Look at this resourceful active lady- Princess Gloria Adebajo-Fraser who is the only woman in the Lagos Pdp to be conferred with national honours till date. Bode George made sure she is sidelined because she doesnt believe in factions but the PDP. She is a loyal active party member and deserves recognition as the daughter of the soil- a lagos indigene from a respected and popular Lagos family. If this lady was in the APC she would have been recognized and well positioned. She is intelligent and articulate. Why does Bode George try to play God all the time.”

“He has deceived Jonathan and is still deceiving him. Bode George is not our arrowhead and we reject him as a leader. He does not represent our views at all and is a sycophant and hustler who has bitten the very hand that fed him so he stands cursed as the Bible stated. He is a beneficiary of the crisis between OBJ and Jonathan so he should stop fanning the embers of discord and keep his mouth shut. No matter what technical pardon the Supreme court gave him, it is political and unacceptable to us.”

“OBJ made him the NPA Chairman and today, he has the guts to insult OBJ because of what he wants to eat from Jonathan. Let Jonathan learn and know that Bode George will do the same to him tomorrow because he is an ingrate. He will be ready to sell out to the next government when the time comes. Bode George has no job. That is his problem. He is a disgrace to the yoruba race. Jimi Agbaje should keep a good distance from him because he is a problem to the PDP.”

We want to warn Nigerians that Obasanjo is an elder statesman of Youruba extraction and nigerians must respect him and the office he held. We will not tolerate all these insults to our Leader no matter his political affiliation. E K Clark should be warned and other charlatans. If this continues, we will take necessary action. The Yorubas are not to be taken for granted.”

“PDP should be seeking ways to pacify OBJ and not aggravate the situation. They should be suing for peace not war. OBJ remains a national asset anyday, anytime. We should not cut off our nose to spite our face. Jonathan should be a wise leader and look past his nose to see clearly. If he goes to an election without making his peace with OBJ, it will be a great mistake. We can help him in this regard if he so wishes. Bode will only mislead him and run away.”