Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and member of its Board of Trustees (BoT), Bode George, has urged party leaders to set aside their personal ambitions and engage in dialogue to resolve internal issues.
Speaking on Sunday during a discussion titled “National Reconciliation and Discipline in the PDP,” moderated by Femi Akande, George emphasized that internal conflicts are not unique to the PDP.
George, who previously served as the deputy national chairman of the PDP, acknowledged the party’s internal disputes but insisted that such disagreements are normal in any organization.
“I know we have internal crisis in our party, it’s normal. There’s no organisation anywhere in the world that you will not have some disagreement. I am pleading with all sides, they should calm their nerves,” the PDP chieftain stated.
He stressed the importance of returning to the negotiation table, encouraging all involved to put aside personal ambitions, hatred, and jealousy.
“We can get back to the table and discuss at length. All participants should drop their personal ambitions. Hatred, pettiness and jealousy is normal all over the world. We can disagree without being disagreeable,” George remarked, highlighting the need for constructive dialogue.
George also advised against excessive ambition, particularly for those who have reached a certain age and stature.
He referenced what he called the “President Joe Biden political strategy,” suggesting that senior leaders should consider stepping aside to allow younger generations to take the reins for the sake of the nation.
He paid tribute to the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the principal architect of the PDP, and his efforts to unite various political groups across Nigeria, forming the foundation of the party.
“There is a new concept now in politics called President Joe Biden political strategy, when you get to a certain age and a certain class, you handover to the younger generation to continue because of your country. No individual can be larger or bigger than a nation and if you have that as your concept, nobody can be in power forever.
“History will judge. Our leaders since 1998 conceptualised the idea of looking at our past and projecting a workable political platform. No matter how the history of this country is written, you can never forget Papa Alex Ekueme.
“He was the chief convener of different political groups. He called Chief Bola Ige from the South West, Alex Nwobodo from his side, Papa Solomon Lar and so many others we call the G14. They sat back and assessed and carried out analysis,” George said.
George reflected on past political failures in Nigeria, such as the collapse of the First Republic and the downfall of the Shehu Shagari government, and urged current leaders to learn from history to prevent similar failures and the return of military rule.
