Check Past Records Of Presidential Candidates, Bode George Tells Nigerians

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has charged Nigerians to check the records of presidential candidates.

He also urged the Federal Government to change tactics and strategies towards addressing the rising insecurity in the country.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos, the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland who said he was speaking as a concerned Nigerian said since he was born, Nigeria has never deteriorated to the current level it is.

According to him, if not for God’s intervention, the country would have gone under with the high rate of insecurity, mutual distrust and unemployment among the youths.

He however said dialogue remains the best option to address the challenges facing Nigeria.

According to him, it is better to “jaw-jaw” than “war-war.”

He expressed regret that terrorists appeared to be more powerful than the state, recalling the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train which left many people dead while some dozens are still in captivity.

He said elders of this country concerned about the current drift in Nigeria should speak up.

George said, “I’ve lived in Nigeria a long enough to have seen the vagaries of behaviours, the lack of cohesion, tribally, culturally and in interaction as people of this country.

“I know as a matter of fact that, that 1914 amalgamation, the British United us for purposes of economic interest. But having existed for over 100 years, I believe we should be at par with the so-called developed countries.

“Democratic development is not 100 meter dash race. It’s a continuum but I have witnessed because I come from the family of Baba Herbert Macaulay, the first Nigerian politician, he established first Nigerian Democratic Party in 1922.

“With that background, of course I also went to the military, I’ve never seen this country at the level which we are today. The first responsibility of any government at any level is security of lives and properties. Who is safe now in Nigeria? Whether you are a rich man or a poor man, whether you are a reverend or an Imam, whether you are a rascal in the street or the socialist. This is not the time for those who are concerned about our nation to be quiet.

“I don’t want to talk as a politician. The parties have concluded their primaries and the Presidential candidates have emerged but whither Nigeria? Where are we going? I got a bit disturbed because when I saw the candidates that emerged in some parties, it gave me a heavy goose pimples, is that the best this nation can produce?

“I listed out areas of major concerns to every committed Nigerian, religious intolerance, insecurity and tribal intolerance. The system of governance, that leads to the need for restructuring. The unemployment of the youths must be addressed.”