‘’The political coalition will blow in their faces because there are many of them who want to be Presidential Candidate. How will the manage the conflicting interests’’
PDP chieftain and former military Administrator of Ondo State Chief Olabode George was so emphatic when speaking on the current coalition being formed by multiple political actors including PDP Presidential candidate in the 2023 elections Atiku Abubakar, former APC big wig who has now moved to the SDP Nasiru El-Rufai, Labor Party flag bearer in the 2023 election Peter Obi and a host of others.
According to the retired NAVY Commodore who was a guest on popular radio programme WEEKEND KICKOFF on Smaillz 98.7FM anchored by Ambrose Somide, he has not changed his political affiliation since he joined politics, and he was not planning on doing so for any political conveniences.
Hear Chief Bode George “being here and there cannot work if the main reason is to move the nation forward. Staying focused and being resolute with conviction would get the desired result.
Often referred to as The Lagos boy from his growing up days on the Lagos Island, Chief Bode George touched on several national issues such as the Military Incursion into politics, Political cross carpeting, State of emergency, Power devolution, State of the nation, the Abacha Phantom coup, evil of British colonization and more.
Speaking on what the military refers to ‘intervention’, the military general considers it “an unnecessary incursion, which resulted into a “bad experience” the nation witnessed. In his opinion, the incursion polarised the military and destroyed the expected unity, loyalty and camaraderie of the uniform personnel.
On the role of the British on the amalgamation of Nigeria, ex-military Governor of the defunct Ondo State, says the amalgamation was a great disservice to Nigeria and the aftermath years down the line has continued to fuel laziness and underdevelopment of the constituents that make up the country and level of corruption we are witnessing.
He said the colonialist had an agenda and did was convenient and was only in their interest.
It was because they were not getting satisfactory revenue in the northern protectorate, the British decided to merge north and south together for selfish economic reason. At the end of the game, they left two evils in this country- Tribalism and Religious bigotry”
On the emergency rule in Revers State he drew similarities with what happened in the old Western region in the 60s when the then Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa declared a state of emergency in the then Western Region for political reasons that made Chief Obafemi Awolowo to query him by asking, ‘where is the wide spread violence, is it in Ogbomosho, is it in Mokola or is it in Badagry?’. So Chief Olabode George asked President Tinubu; “where is the violence in Rivers State?’
Talking about Power Devolution he believes that the power at the centre should be decentralized. “It is for this reason that President Goodluck Jonathan organized a National Conference 2014 of which I was a member”.
He threw more light on the Report of the Conference by saying that the government of that time said they did not have enough time to work on its implementation.
“It was handed over to APC’S Buhari who kept it in the cupboard. Now another APC President is in power. Let Tinubu bring out the report” he requested and implement.
Chief Olabode George is the Atona Oodua, one-time Military Governor of Ondo State, Principal Staff Officer to the ex- Chief of General Staff, General Oladipupo Diya, a Director of National War College, later appointed Chairman, Nigerian Port Authority. As a political giant, he served as Deputy National Chairman-Southwest and National Vice Chairman of the PDP.
The Weekend Kick-off runs on Smailz Radio 98.7FM every Friday from 4pm and features notable newsmakers and celebrities.
