By Godwin Orozo
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has disclosed the reason behind his decision to reconsider leaving Nigeria after Bola Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election.
In an interview on Arise TV, the former military governor of Ondo State revealed that Tinubu had sent his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to persuade him to stay. George had previously threatened to leave the country if Tinubu won, citing concerns about Tinubu’s leadership.
Reflecting on his previous stance, George said, “During the campaign period, I stated it and I meant it—that if by whatever measure Bola Tinubu wins this election, I was going to get out. Once they heard that, Tinubu sent his chief of staff, who is my little brother from Lagos State, Femi Gbajabiamila, to appeal to me. He came to say, ‘My boss said I should tell you, please be calm’. They knew they had wronged me. They said they were sorry.”
George had previously expressed his deep misgivings about Tinubu’s leadership, stating in 2022, “If by whatever chance he gets to the villa, I won’t be part of this country… I can go to Ghana and be watching with binoculars from afar. You will see what will happen.”
In the interview, George also discussed the internal crisis within the PDP, which he believes began during the lead-up to the 2023 election.
He emphasized how unresolved tensions weakened the party’s unity. “The last convention, the presidential convention, was when everything started, and instead of arresting it, they were exacerbating it,” George explained. “With all that, you cannot have the chairman of the party and the presidential candidate from one side of the divide—they didn’t listen.”
George also criticized the actions of former PDP Chairman Iyorchia Ayu, accusing him of breaking his promise to step down if a northern candidate emerged.
“Ayu made a public statement that peradventure the presidency comes from the north, he would resign. But when the results were announced, he said, ‘I have four years; I’m not going anywhere.’ This is a breach of trust!”He concluded by urging the PDP to focus on rebuilding the party and called for an end to personal ambitions.
“Atiku and Wike should calm down and let us go to the elders meeting where we would start this discussion, to trace this crisis back to that convention. This is the only way forward.”
