The former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George has said he is disappointed that the Lagos State governorship candidate of the party in the 2015 election, Jimi Agbaje has refused to step down for him in the national chairmanship contest of the party.

While speaking with Punch, George said he expected that Agbaje would step down for him, as a result of the support he gave Agbaje when he contested for the Lagos State governorship position.

George said, “I am very disappointed but not angry. Vengeance is not mine, it is God’s. I want to quote the book of Ecclesiastics, which says that there is a season for everything. Whatever you sow in your lifetime, you will reap.

“Our Lord Jesus Christ said that one of his disciples would betray him. The disciples started looking round. Judas Iscariot, the traitor, has been around from time immemorial. It’s a shame. That is his (Agbaje’s) choice. I just pray that God would continue to direct this country. God has told us that it is only Him we can trust, not human beings.”

George added, “Agbaje knows what is right. My advice is that he should step down. He should obey his elders.  As a Christian, we should have the fear of God. If he insists on contesting, I cannot stop him. Let the decision be made by the delegates at the convention.”

However, Agbaje has responded through his spokesperson, Felix Oboawigna, stating that he is contesting the election in the national interest.

He said, “For Jimi Agbaje, the national chairmanship position was never his ambition. He never aspired to it. The stakeholders decided that they needed someone who would not have to deal with a reputation crisis and they chose Agbaje.

“Agbaje never betrayed Chief Bode George. He is not a betrayer. He has all the respect for George but this is beyond true allies; this is beyond Lagos State. He is contesting in the national interest. The party has created a level playing field. Let the best man win.”

Azeez