PDP heading for disaster in 2027, Bode George warns

…Calls for sanction over invasion of BoT meeting

Bode George, former deputy national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has warned that the party was destined for a monumental disaster in the 2027 presidential election if the lingering national leadership crisis is not resolved in time.

George also described the invasion of its party national secretariat by thugs as despicable, horrific, inhuman, wicked and unheard of.

Speaking at a media round table at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos on Friday, George hinged his submission on the ongoing impasse among party leaders, stressing that a house divided against itself cannot stand.

He maintained that it is unfortunate that the party found itself in the current situation due to a self-inflicted crisis, calling on stakeholders to bury their ambition now and not allow the PDP to crumble.

“Unless we are united, with equity, fairness, and justice being the pedestal for any political decision taken, this party will be heading to disaster in 2027,” he said.

George, a dedicated life member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), said that he was compelled to sound the alarm in a matter requiring urgent attention in the party. The PDP chieftain described the fight over the position of national secretary as a national embarrassment and shame.

He described what happened during the 79th meeting of the August body in Abuja as despicable, horrific, inhuman, wicked, and unheard of.

Chief Bode George stressed that individuals who orchestrated the use of thugs to invade the party secretariat acted shamelessly.

“It is disheartening that the PDP, the bastion of civility, humility, decorum, harmony, and respect for the rule of law since 1998, when it was formed by elders, seems to be losing these values,” he said.

George said that the current leaders of the party were now dancing on the graves of some of these elders.

He said that the current situation arose from the actions of certain disloyal individuals within the party who are hell-bent on destroying it.

“We are all aware that the national secretariat of our party in Abuja is sacred. The premises must be respected by all members and non-members. It is sacrilegious that thugs were hired to enter the premises to unleash mayhem, disrupting the 79th Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting.

“If that could happen, then what do you think those who sponsored the thugs will do during the National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings?” he queried.

Speaking further, he said, “If we are indeed serious as a party, this is the time for the party leadership to bring the two opposing factions together for a peace meeting.

“If they are not ready to embrace peace, they should step aside and allow the party to move past the current turmoil.

“Enough of this arrant nonsense. We found ourselves in our current situation due to a self-inflicted crisis. We should bury our individual ambition now and not allow the PDP to crumble. Elders of the party should tell those funny characters to calm down.

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“As leaders, we must not allow anybody to destroy our party because PDP is the only true national party. The APC is just a mere congregation of strange bed fellows.

“This is the time to show members working against our party the way out. No sentiment at all. Anything else will be suicidal.

“Can you imagine a situation in which party officers were attacked and dragged out of the hall by thugs? What a desecration of our office.

“Nigerians watched as thugs, sponsored by some so-called leaders of the party, scaled the fence of our national secretariat. What a national shame.

“It took the intervention of the police and other security agents around to bring the situation under control, using pepper spray. This is profanity of the highest order.

“More security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were mobilised to our party secretariat to restore normalcy. What a national embarrassment.

“I want to send this advice to all that this humiliation of our party and elders must stop. The leadership of the party must also wield the big stick.

“Nobody is too big to be disciplined by our party. Also, nobody is too important to be expelled.

“Only patriotic members of our party are indispensable. If you think you are a member of our party and you are arrogantly working against us, I can tell you that your days are numbered”.