Bode George: Nigeria in political, economic intensive care unit
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Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has said that the party would not form an alliance with any other opposition party for the 2027 election.
Speaking at a media parley in Lagos yesterday, George also spoke on the prospect of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar contesting for the presidential ticket again in 2027, urging him to drop his ambition because he would be old to serve the country as a president.
He asked the former vice president to support a southern candidate in 2027, saying that the south has to complete their eight years in office before power could return to the north in 2031.
Chief George said Atiku and Northern politicians nursing ambition to fly the flag of the party in 2027 should stop putting their political ambition ahead of the party’s best interest.
“In 2027, I can’t tell Atiku not to contest, but our party must be definitive, and definitively state that the presidency must still be in the south. General Muhammadu Buhari spent eight years and he is from the north.
“Our party must produce its own presidential candidate from the south. I hope we learnt something from the 2023 general election. Will Atiku’s ambition be greater than the national ambition and national interest of our country?
“I heard someone saying they wanted to form a mega party to win the presidency? Which mega party? Do you know how long it takes to have a solid party?
“Age also has caught up with some people and you can see the way they are talking and telling President Joe Biden of US to take a good rest because he is already 82 years. He wants to go for another four years and he will be the oldest president that has ever ruled in America.
“My brother Atiku Abubakar was 77 years last year, and by 2027 he would be 81 years. Atiku should be in a situation where he plays like the big uncle in the room or the elder in the room.
“What would anybody carry me now to do because I’m heading to 80 years and I want to go and be minister, to do what? Let’s mentor the younger generation, and let’s be consistent with our strong belief in our party’s norms,” he said.