Segun Atanda/
The crisis rocking Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), took a new turn as Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George, former Deputy National Chairman of the party, fiercely condemned the violent invasion of the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
Describing the attack as “despicable, horrific, and inhuman,” Chief George warned that if urgent steps are not taken, the party risks self-destruction ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, the elder statesman expressed outrage over the events of Wednesday’s 79th Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting, where armed thugs allegedly stormed the secretariat, disrupting proceedings. He lamented that the PDP, once a model of civility and democratic decorum, is now being reduced to an “Agbero party” (a term used for motor park thugs in Nigeria).
“It is sacrilegious that thugs were hired to unleash mayhem at our sacred National Secretariat. If this can happen during a BoT meeting, imagine what will happen during National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings,” Chief George warned.
He called on party leaders to take decisive action, urging warring factions to reconcile or step aside.
“Enough of this arrant nonsense,” he said, adding that disloyal members working against the party should be expelled.
“Nobody is too big to be disciplined. If you are arrogantly working against the party, your days are numbered,” he said.
Chief George did not mince words about the PDP’s future, warning that the party is on the brink of disaster if internal strife persists.
“Unless we are united, with equity, fairness, and justice guiding our decisions, this party will collapse before 2027,” he said.
He criticized certain party leaders for fueling the crisis and questioned their true allegiance.
“Instead of instigating crises, why are they not bold enough to defect to the APC? Do they fear God at all?” he said.
Beyond the PDP’s internal turmoil, Chief George also took aim at President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing its economic policies as unsustainable and detrimental to Nigerians.
“Nigerians are hungry and angry. President Tinubu must pause and reflect: Are people benefiting from his policies? In 2023, a litre of petrol was less than N200, and the naira was under N800 per dollar. What do we have today?” he queried, calling for immediate government intervention to alleviate economic hardship.
The PDP chieftain also voiced concerns about global political trends, drawing parallels between former U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to power and the rise of Adolf Hitler. He warned that Trump’s isolationist policies could destabilize international relations, questioning whether world leaders would stand idly by.
“At a time when global unity is needed, Trump is saying goodbye to multilateralism. The world must ask: What exactly is his agenda?” he said.
Bringing the discussion home, he raised concerns about Nigeria’s stability amid political upheavals in neighboring Francophone countries. “With the instability around us, are we prepared to remain strong and stable? A stitch in time saves nine,” he advised.
As the PDP grapples with its internal crisis, Chief Bode George’s warning serves as a wake-up call for party leaders. Will the party reconcile and regain its footing, or will internal divisions spell its doom before the 2027 elections? The coming months will be crucial.
For now, one thing is clear—Chief George has drawn a line in the sand, and the fate of the PDP hangs in the balance.
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