A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has stated that he will never leave the party for another, regardless of the challenges it faces.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Lagos, George responded to the leadership crisis within the party and the departure of some long-standing members due to internal conflicts.
George expressed confidence that the party’s current issues would be resolved and that it would emerge stronger.
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He reiterated his firm belief in the party’s ideology, asserting that no other political party upheld such strong principles or practiced internal democracy as effectively as the PDP.
“I can’t leave PDP, I can’t. Look, every other party is like a miniature congregation of strange bedfellows.
“They do not have the principles that we have in the our party. So why would I leave reality for others? I would rather go home because I believe so much in the principles of the party
“A rolling stone gathers no moss. If we have crisis in the party,we will stay there and resolve it,we are going nowhere,” he said.
Bode George stated that those leaving the PDP due to internal challenges were never truly committed to the party in the first place.
He pointed out that some of the prominent figures who left the party had since realized that the PDP was the only one practicing true internal democracy.
George referenced the failure of late Alex Ekwueme, a founding member, to secure the party’s presidential ticket in two attempts, noting that this showed PDP was not centered around individuals.
When asked if the party missed defected leaders like Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) respectively, George said the party did not miss anyone.
Instead, he argued that what was missing were the selflessness, dedication, and progressive politics of the party’s founding members.
George emphasized that individual interests should be put aside for the party’s greater good if PDP is to overcome its current challenges.
He also underscored the importance of unity and legacy-building in political leadership, praising the exemplary conduct of Mr. Ekwueme.
George recalled that Ekwueme contested against President Obasanjo, and when he lost, he graciously accepted the outcome.
Lauding Ekwueme’s unwavering commitment to democratic principles and party unity, George stated, “He never, at any time, raised his hands to demonize or destroy the party.”
He described Ekwueme as selfless and willing to make sacrifices for the party’s benefit.
According to George, consensus-building, dialogue, and discipline are crucial for the stability of the PDP.
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