By Charles Adingupu
Against widespread report that the former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George has resolved to work with President Bola Tinubu if contacted, the PDP chieftain has denied ever making such a promise.
Chief George dismissed the report as a figment of the journalist who reported the story, claiming that he was misquoted as he never stated in the interview that he ready to work with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu if invited.
Chief George said that the media platform which published the report was not even present at the press conference he held where he spoke about what he would do if Tinubu calls him for consultation.
The PDP chieftain made these clarifications on Monday while speaking in an interview on Arise Television.
“When they asked me, “What will you do if Tinubu invites you?” and I said precisely that if he (Tinubu) calls me, I will pray for Nigeria,” George explained.
“Listen, I am not a flip-flopper by any profession. I retired as a General. What will he be calling me for? We don’t belong to the same party.
“If he says hello chief, good morning, I will say good morning, Mr. President but that is if all court cases are over. We are still in court.
“Even when Papa Olusi came, trying to convince me to go and pay a congratulatory visit to him (Tinubu), I said, No I can’t do that.
“What would they be doing in their calculation? I have told them that I have no personal qualms with this gentleman. The only differences we have are purely administrative,” he said.
Recall that the elder stateman was widely reported to have pledged to work for President Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) if invited.
George at separate times in the past said that he can never work with Tinubu being a major critic of Tinubu since the latter was Lagos State governor.
He was, however, reported to have made a surprise U-turn and said he will work with the administration of President Tinubu if invited to contribute his quota to nation-building.
George reportedly said this during an interview with journalists at his Ikoyi office in Lagos while fielding questions from journalists.
Prior to the general elections, Chief George has vowed to relocate to Gold Coast, Ghana if Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerged as the President of Nigeria.
When confronted after the election and with Bola Tinubu emerging as President elect, Chief George also claimed he was quoted out of context.