A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, Bode George, has said that the party may experience a major disaster in the 2023 general elections if the issue of inclusivity in the party is not addressed.
George spoke on Tuesday on a live television programme where he discussed the internal crisis within the PDP.
“Until this party returns to the founding fathers’ principles of unity, with equity, fairness and justice being the pedestal for any political decision taken in this party, and ensuring broad-mindedness to accommodate the concerns of all zones in this country, PDP becomes vulnerable to disaster in the 2023 elections,” he said.
While reiterating his earlier stance, the PDP chieftain said he would not vote for the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the forthcoming election unless the issue of inclusivity in the party is addressed.
“I will not vote for the presidential candidate of our party until the issue of inclusivity is addressed. Let them sit down and think it over.
It is not negotiable. Every Nigerian is important for this election.”
Asked if the opposition party would be able to resolve its internal crisis before heading to next year’s polls, George said the reconciliation would only happen if the party’s hierarchy “gives unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar.”
He further stated that since the formation of the party almost 25 years ago, the North Central, which currently holds the position of the national chairman, had predominantly occupied the position of the party’s leadership.
He added, “It is not a solution that cannot be handled. All we are saying is giving what belongs to Caesar to Caesar. Give us what belongs to us. It is turn-by-turn Nigeria Limited. Take for example, what I am angry about is this, the first chairman was the late Papa Solomon Lar from the North Central. The second chairman, North Central, the third chairman, Audu Ogbe, North Central, the fourth chairman, my oga, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, North Central; Abubakar Baraje, from Kwara State, was also North Central. Now you have Iyorchia Ayu, also from the North Central.
“The South West has never enjoyed this position since the party started almost 25 years ago.
What is our crime? If you are telling us you want to rule this country, you have to weave all the tribes and all the people together.
That is the major problem, and unless that is resolved, I will not vote for our own candidate.”
