Chief Olabode George has expressed fears that Nigeria could be in turmoil if the petitioners or respondents win the case at the presidential election petition tribunal.
The former national vice chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made his fears known in a speech at the fifth annual lecture organised by Freedom Online, with the theme: “2023-2027: Nigerians, Elected Leaders and Expectations” in Lagos, yesterday.
He said he was worried about what would happen if the tribunal’s verdict swayed either to President Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who are respondents in the matter or the petitioners.
The presidential candidates of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, are the petitioners.
He said:
“We are in a situation where if the court favours ‘A’, there would be trouble, and if the court favours ‘B’, there would also be trouble. The way most of our elected leaders take life is as if there would be no tomorrow.
May God forgive our transgressions and direct the minds of our political leaders in ensuring a good life to all our people in Nigeria.”
He criticised the political class for marginalising and oppressing the less privileged in society.
“Enough of this deceit. Enough of this rottenness in the financial management of our nation. Let us put an end to the economic inequalities, injustice and unfairness in the distribution of our God-given resources and our financial wealth.
“A situation where a sitting senator collects N23 million every month, a retired federal permanent secretary N1 million per month, and a retired general collects N250,000 as pension per month is despicable, shambolic, nonsensical and outright systemic failure.
“We are now talking about distributing palliatives to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal, but how will the palliatives be distributed?
“A quick reminder of the N500 billion previously collected monthly and supposedly distributed without data and accountability calls for in-depth investigation and punishment.
“I weep for my country Nigeria, but if, like Prophet Micah said, our nation will rise again if we put the fear of God before all human endeavours.”
