Chief Bode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to retire from his long-standing presidential ambition after 31 years.
George advised Atiku to step aside and focus on his role as an elder statesman, especially as the 2027 election approaches.
In a press conference held at his office in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, George pointed out that Atiku, who will be 81 years old in 2027, has been contesting for the presidency since 1993 and should now focus on leaving a legacy for future generations.
He implored Atiku to “calm down” and cease further attempts to become president.
“To Atiku, my advice is this: You will be 81 years old in 2027, and you have been contesting for the presidency since 1993. This is the time for you to calm down and act like an elder. I appeal to you in the name of Allah to take it easy and leave everything for posterity,” George said.
George also expressed concerns about the internal crisis within the PDP, attributing it to members prioritizing personal ambitions over the party’s collective interests.
He criticized party members who, despite aligning with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), have not formally defected from the PDP, calling them “cowards.”
“We are where we are today because of a self-inflicted crisis; we should bury our individual ambitions now and not allow the PDP to crumble. Elders of the party should tell some of these funny characters to cool off and think of our national interest instead of their personal interest,” George stated.
He added that the country is facing significant anger and hardship, with some party members focusing on their own political careers rather than confronting the government’s shortcomings.
George specifically addressed the ongoing tension between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, urging Wike to ease his efforts to undermine Fubara.
He called on Wike to step back from his attempts to “bring down” the current governor and emphasized that no individual is bigger than the party.
“My advice to Wike is very simple. You are my political son. I am appealing to him to cool off immediately. Forget what happened in the past and let us work together in the interest of this party,” George said.
He also questioned the motivations behind the crisis, asking why some party members were encouraging Wike to attack Fubara, despite Wike’s significant role in Fubara’s rise to power.
George expressed concern that the ongoing conflict within the party was being fueled by selfish interests, rather than efforts to resolve the issues.
“Why are some party members encouraging his predecessor to bring him down? Governor Fubara was helped by Governor Wike to become the number one citizen of Rivers State. Why should he now behave like a slave to his predecessor and others?” George asked.
He concluded by urging PDP leaders to mediate in the conflict and prevent further divisions within the party, stressing that it was time to learn from past mistakes and ensure the party’s survival.
