Bode George: Tinubu Sent Gbajabiamila to Apologize, Wike is Like My Son
A prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu made efforts to reconcile with him after Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election. According to George, the president sent his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to persuade him not to leave Nigeria as he had previously threatened.
George disclosed this during an appearance on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Wednesday, where he also discussed the ongoing political crisis involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara.
Tinubu’s Efforts to Mend Relations
Bode George had been vocal about his disapproval of Tinubu's candidacy and had declared his intention to leave the country if Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election. Reflecting on this, George shared that shortly after Tinubu's victory, Gbajabiamila approached him on behalf of the president to offer an apology.
“During the campaign, I made it clear that if Tinubu won the election, I would leave Nigeria,” George said. “After Tinubu emerged victorious, he sent his Chief of Staff, Gbajabiamila, to ask for my forgiveness. They admitted they had wronged me, and Gbajabiamila begged me to reconsider my decision to leave the country.”
Wike’s Role in the PDP Crisis
George also addressed the internal crisis within the PDP, particularly the friction between Wike and Governor Sim Fubara. Despite the ongoing political tension, George described Wike as “like a son” to him and attributed much of the party's issues to leadership decisions that were mishandled during the PDP’s convention.
George recalled his role in advising the former PDP Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to honor his public commitment to resign if the party’s presidential candidate emerged from the North. However, Ayu’s refusal to step down became a significant source of division within the party.
“Wike is like a son to me,” George explained. “The crisis began when I advised Ayu to step down after our presidential candidate came from the North, as he had promised. His failure to do so was the start of the conflict.”
Efforts to Reconcile Wike and Fubara
Turning to the ongoing dispute between Wike and Governor Fubara, George revealed that he and other party elders had tried to mediate the situation by facilitating dialogue between the two politicians.
“When I saw the tension between Wike and Fubara, I called for a meeting. We spoke with Fubara, who told us his side of the story. I also reached out to Wike, who promised to meet with us after his return from a trip to China,” George said.
Despite these efforts, the conflict between Wike and Fubara continues to present a challenge for the PDP leadership in Rivers State, with many hoping for a peaceful resolution in the near future.
0 Comments