Why I Can Never Leave PDP – Bode George

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George says he can never leave the party for any other one, no matter the challenges it is being faced with.

Bode George spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday on Lagos.

NAN was reacting to the leadership crisis in the party and how some old members were leaving, citing internal wrangling.

George said the present problems in the party would be resolved and that the party would get stronger.

He said he strongly believed in the ideology of the party, adding that no other political party had the strong principles as PDP or was practising strong internal democracy like the party.

“I can’t leave PDP ,I can’t . Look, every other party is like a miniatured congregation of strange bed fellows.

“They do not have the principles that we have in the our party. So why would I leave reality for others? I would rather go home because I believe so much in the principles of the party.

“A rolling stone gathers no moss. If we have crisis in the party, we will stay there and resolve it, We are going nowhere,” he said.

He said those leaving PDP over challenges in the party were not committed to the party in the first place.

George said some of the heavyweights who left the party had since realised that the PDP was the only party practising true internal democracy.

He said the failure of late Chief Alex Ekwueme, a foundation member, to get the party’s presidential ticket on two attempts meant PDP was not built around individuals.

Speaking on whether the party missed defected chieftains like Mr Peter Obi and Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) respectively, George said that the party did not miss anyone.

He said what had been missing were the selflessness, dedication and progressive politics of founding fathers .

The PDP chieftain said that individual interests should be subsumed under the interest of the party for the PDP to rise above its challenges.

George stressed the importance of unity, and legacy-building in political leadership, citing “exemplary conduct” of Ekwueme.

According to him, Ekwueme contested with President Obasanjo and he declared he lost.

Lauding Ekwueme’s steadfast commitment to democratic principles and party unity, George said, “He never, at any time, raised his hands to demonise or destroy the party.”

George said Ekwueme was selfless and made sacrifices for the good of the party.