“Jonathan should’nt have intervene, I made up my mind not to support Obanikoro and I won’t work with Sheriff” - Bode George

In an interview with Toluwani Eniola, Chief Bode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, open up about PDP ongoing feud and reconciliation of Musiliu Obanikoro’s and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The Supreme Court has struck out an application by Ali Modu Sheriff asking the court not to entertain the plea made by the Ahmed Makarfi faction on the party’s crisis, is this a sign of victory for the Makarfi faction which you are supporting?

The Supreme Court made the right decision. I said it severally that there was something wrong with the February 17, 2017 judgment of the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal which sacked the caretaker committee and affirmed Sheriff as the national chairman of the PDP. After the botched Port Harcourt convention, Sheriff called a press conference to singlehandedly cancel a convention which only a national executive committee has the power to do.  So, we are optimistic that the Supreme Court will deliver a good judgment which will set democracy in Nigeria on a good course. 

Many people expected both factions to reach a truce with the intervention of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Why did Jonathan fail to resolve the crisis?

This was what happened.  When I was in London, the former President spoke with me that he needed to arrange a meeting to broker peace between both factions. I said, “Oga, I appeal to you, let the Supreme Court deliver its judgment first before any reconciliation is done.”  Jonathan was humane. He was thinking as a leader. But I told him that one does not reconcile people who disrespect the party’s constitution. I told him there was danger in such an early reconciliation .I maintained that one does not broker peace when there is a Berlin war between the two parties, who are in court. The matters before the court are strategic and fundamental to the future operations of the party. I advised that he should intervene towards 2019.

So, what did Jonathan do wrongly?

He should have waited for the outcome of the court before intervening. That is what we advised. Once the Supreme Court gives a judgement, then he can come in. The Supreme Court judgement will set a precedent for the party.

Are you saying Jonathan made the reconciliation to flop?

I did not say that. He was concerned. He didn’t feel that the court was the best platform to resolve the impasse. Eventually, Sheriff stormed out of the meeting he convened, disrespecting the former president.  That was the height of disrespect. He said they didn’t allow him to speak as the chairman of the party.

Many people expected both factions to reach a truce with the intervention of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Why did Jonathan fail to resolve the crisis?

This was what happened.  When I was in London, the former President spoke with me that he needed to arrange a meeting to broker peace between both factions. I said, “Oga, I appeal to you, let the Supreme Court deliver its judgment first before any reconciliation is done.”  Jonathan was humane. He was thinking as a leader. But I told him that one does not reconcile people who disrespect the party’s constitution. I told him there was danger in such an early reconciliation .I maintained that one does not broker peace when there is a Berlin war between the two parties, who are in court. The matters before the court are strategic and fundamental to the future operations of the party. I advised that he should intervene towards 2019.

So, what did Jonathan do wrongly?

He should have waited for the outcome of the court before intervening. That is what we advised. Once the Supreme Court gives a judgement, then he can come in. The Supreme Court judgement will set a precedent for the party.

Are you saying Jonathan made the reconciliation to flop?

I did not say that. He was concerned. He didn’t feel that the court was the best platform to resolve the impasse. Eventually, Sheriff stormed out of the meeting he convened, disrespecting the former president.  That was the height of disrespect. He said they didn’t allow him to speak as the chairman of the party.

  

Musiliu Obanikoro, a staunch PDP governorship aspirant, has reconciled with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, how did you feel about this development?

I am not bothered. I read his reasons for reconciling with Bola (Tinubu). He anchored his reconciliation with Tinubu on the problems in the PDP. But it is when there is crisis that you know the truly committed, dedicated and loyal people. Will the people he is going to meet there (APC) say well done, the faithful servant? I feel sorry for him. Tinubu and others were responsible for my travails during the Nigeria Ports Authority crisis when I was sent to prison for doing nothing. I can only wish Obanikoro the best of luck.

Do you see him as a betrayer for joining the APC?

I won’t use that strong word to describe him because he (Obanikoro) is still my brother. I can only advise him that we are here only for a short time. That popular song says, “Feso jaye.” Let him take heed. Life is not a bed of roses. The highway of life goes into the valley once in a while. There is no human being who will not go through one trial or another. But that tunnel of tribulation is to test your strength and faith in God. If you believe in him, you will triumph. That is what he should think about.

Is his defection connected with his ambition to become the governor of Lagos?

Did he even realise the governorship ambition in the PDP? I have advised him severally, he didn’t listen to me. He said I was too hard and that I hate him. But now, he will go to the APC and he does not need to say I hate him anymore. The benefits and problems of the party should be enjoyed and borne by all. That is the beauty of democracy. It is not only the goodies of the party that you share. You should share in the problems of the party.

What is you grouse with Obanikoro?

During the last administration, I led a delegation from the South-West to Jonathan. I complained that there was no indigenous minister from Lagos State in his government. Jonathan said he would satisfy us. He then asked us to bring three names from Lagos, that he would consider one of them as a minister. I called a meeting of all the leaders from the senatorial districts in my compound to nominate names from each district. Obanikoro’s name was last in the Lagos-Central senatorial district. They didn’t vote for him. I gave them free hand to nominate and vote. After voting, they gave me three names which I took to Jonathan.

Jonathan wanted a woman as a minister. He rejected the initial names we submitted and asked us to nominate three qualified women for the job. I took the message back to Lagos. They nominated the women and I took the paper back to the president, to choose any of the three women we suggested. Then I travelled (out of the country). When I came back, Obanikoro came to my house and prostrated before me.  I asked him what the problem was.  I said, “I hope you have not committed any crime?” He said no. He said Jonathan had chosen him to be a minister and that he had got his appointment letter. He said he was asked to come and seek my support.

I said the final decision on who would represent Lagos could only be taken by the President. I said there was no way I would challenge Jonathan’s decision. Obanikoro went to the Senate for confirmation and the likes of Mrs Oluremi Tinubu and other APC senators opposed his nomination. But David Mark was able to manoeuvre for him and he was confirmed. Obanikoro left there and came straight to my house to come and thank me. He thought I would oppose him. I said, “Obanikoro, listen, I am a Christian. If you want to be minister, go and be. God must have said you will be a minister.” Two months after, he came to me and said he wanted to be governor. I said, ‘Obanikoro, if you knew you wanted to be governor, why did you go and lobby Jonathan to be minister? He said, “I didn’t lobby sir.” I said if he didn’t lobby, how did his name get to Abuja? I made up my mind not to support him. I asked him why he didn’t allow somebody else to be minister when he had a governorship ambition. I said, ‘na you alone dey for this party?’

Will you join the APC if the Makarfi faction loses at the apex court?

 Me? (Laughs) That is like pouring petrol into fire. If Makarfi did not win, I will be so happy to go to my house and say to my children, “I think I have run the race and played my part.”

Are you saying you will retire from politics if Sheriff wins?

Yes, I am going home. I won’t work with him. My concept of operation would have been affected.