By: Peace Udugba
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Chief Olabode George has appealed to former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Senator David Mark and others who recently left the party to form a coalition, the African Democratic Congress, (ADC) to return to the party because according to him, it is only in the PDP that their interest can be better served.
Speaking at a social engagement held by the Lagos State PDP in his Ikoyi, Lagos Office on Thursday tagged ‘Restitution and Restoration of the PDP”, Chief George said the party members and leaders decided to celebrate because peace has returned to the PDP.
He said the party members are happy that the differences in the PDP has been resolved in the interest of the party.
He explained that, the crisis at the national level is over.
George however, appealed to those who left the party to form coalition that, no coalition can be stronger than the PDP.
He said the PDP is an Iroko tree and that no crisis can make it to die.
He described PDP presently as a reborn political party that has weathered all storms and can never go under.
The PDP stalwart further explained that, those leaving the party to form coalition are dancing on the grave of the founding fathers of the party who sacrificed everything to give birth to a national party.
He explained that, those leaving or threatening to leave the PDP should realize that it is a disservice to the party which provided them the platform they used to get to higher positions in the country.
” I feel sad that those foundation members of the PDP who are leaving the party for ADC have benefitted from the party as Number 2 and Number 3 in the country . I want to appeal to them to have a rethink. Can you leave your father’s house because the roof is leaking? They need to come back to the party that promoted them on a national level” George said.
Chief George said those who want to form coalition should not forget they have travelled that way before, and it amounts to nothing, saying it will be good they remain in the PDP to help rebuild it.
He explained that the celebration of restoration of peace in the PDP is not only a Lagos affair, saying that the peace in the party will be celebrated in all the states of the Federation.
George said “the PDP has weathered the storms, this party is reborn, those that have attained higher positions in the country on the platform of the party should do a rethink, they should take it easy, there is no way their congregating can pass the PDP’s strength.
“They have done it before, there is no major issue of contention in the PDP that can make them leave the PDP. I want to ask why do they want to leave the PDP?They want to be presidential candidate?
“Position are zoned in the PDP..The founding fathers of the party zoned positions because lack of zoning of positions led to the collapse of the First and Second Republic.”
Chief George further added that there is no chance that the PDP can produce a Northerner as its presidential candidate in 2027.
He explained that a Northerner can only emerged as a presidential candidate in 2031.
“There is no chance in our party that any person from the North will run as Presidential Candidate in 2027”, he said.
George who is also the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to institute a Special Fund to provide skills acquisitions for the unemployed youths and as well to create micro finance that will make money available for those who want to do one thing or the other.
