Chief Olabode George, a Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has appealed to prominent party figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, to abandon their plans to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
George stated that the decision to defect to ADC alongside Labour Party’s Peter Obi and key All Progressives Congress (APC) figures such as Nasir el-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi, was tantamount to “dancing on the graves” of the PDP’s founding fathers.
Speaking on Thursday at his Ikoyi office during a media chat titled “Celebration of Restoration,” George declared that “the PDP is back on course” after weathering recent internal crises. He likened the party to the resilient iroko tree: “No matter the storm, it will shake, but because of its roots, it will remain standing.”
Joined by Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, General Tajudeen Olanrewaju, Chief (Mrs) Onikepo Oshodi, and other senior party members, George reminded those contemplating exit that many who left in the past eventually returned.
“We thought we should celebrate the restoration of the party. Of course, we had crises at the national level that made people believe the PDP was collapsing.
“But I’m happy to tell you that there is a celebration of resurrection, which is important. Kaduna has done theirs, we are doing ours, and there will be a meeting in Ibadan.
“We can’t but remind the people that this party has weathered the storms. The Iroko tree, no matter the storm, will shake, but because of its roots, it will remain standing,” he stated.
“I feel disheartened for those who are foundation members of the party and who had become number two, number three in this country. I want to appeal to their conscience to do a rethink. Can you leave your father’s house because it’s leaking? The party made you.
“My advice to them is to take things softly. There is no way you can compare this congregation with ours. They did it before, when they got beaten, they ran back to the party. It’s a shame.
“The major reason for coming together is that they want to defeat Bola Tinubu. But by procedure in the party, there is no part of our constitution that permits someone from the North to contest in 2027.”
He rebuked the defectors sharply: “Those guys are dancing on the graves of our founding fathers. A rolling stone gathers no moss. The initial movement is a mistake on their part. Let them retrace their steps.” George added, “With what those people are doing, they are putting fuel into the fire.”
In the same address, George called on President Tinubu to establish a special intervention fund to tackle hunger and youth unemployment nationwide. He proposed that the President donate ₦5 billion to launch skill acquisition programmes, with contributions from bank CEOs and other private-sector leaders. “That fund will be used for skill acquisition by those who want to have jobs. I believe it’s doable—if you are genuinely elected as the President by the people,” George said, pledging his own support.
