Former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George, has advised PDP leaders to re-strategize in order to take back power from the Bola Tinubu-led government.
George was speaking against the backdrop of the recent electoral loses recorded by the PDP and ways the party can sustain its relevance ahead of future polls.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, George noted that the PDP has deviated from the methods adopted by the founding fathers, adding that this was responsible for the loss by the party in the 2023 election.
He further advised President Tinubu to make use of the country’s resources judiciously, noting that this was what he owed him since his party had lost at the poll and the Supreme Court had made a pronouncement.
George had earlier promised to make his position known after the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party, Peter Obi’s petitions were dismissed at the Supreme Court.
“We are not perfect, when it happened that we had an uppercut, the most reasonable to do is to go back and do an in-depth analysis and cleanse the Augean stable and reposition the party,” George said.
“To put things under the carpet is not the best way. We have to set up a committee of knowledgeable, loyal and dedicated leaders and go round the states to get their inputs. They can bring the report and we will discuss it. I think we will benefit a lot if we do that.
“The problem we had continued to resurface at every electoral period. It is a monumental crisis. I don’t want to undress our party in public. The way the founding fathers founded the party, they altered it. That is the major issue plaguing the party. You created the mayhem at the base of the party. A divided house is a defeated party.
“We have to be very careful and be honest with ourselves so that we don’t go the way of ANPP. Those with personal ambitions should keep it to themselves. We have to change the methodology.
“The Iroko tree is standing and our tap root is still strong, we will bounce back. Having spent ten good years at the national secretariat, the mistake should have been corrected before the elections but nobody listened.”
Speaking on the Supreme Court judgement on presidential election, the PDP chieftain disagreed with the ruling.
“I disagree with the judgement on two areas. On the status of Abuja. Abuja is not a state. The constitution says you must have 25 percent in two third of the states and Abuja.
“On data transmission – why did former President Muhammadu Buhari spend so much money in bringing equipment but the INEC chairman said there was a glitch at the umpteenth time. How? He needs to go back to his inner chamber and ask for God’s forgiveness.
“It is now time for governance but what is the state of the economy. The fiscal, monetary policies and basic needs of the people must be addressed. You see people scavenging for survival,” he added.
