By Ken Afor
Chief Bode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has delivered a scathing assessment of Nigeria’s political landscape since the return to democracy in 1999.
Addressing journalists in Lagos on the state of the nation, the PDP chieftain lamented that the country once hailed as the “Giant of Africa,” is gradually becoming its “permanent invalid.”
He expressed shame at the country’s descent into violence and a “dangerous gangland where the rule of the bayonet and clubs seems to be the norm.”
In his speech titled ‘My thoughts on the state of our country in the last 25 years: A time to chart a new direction’, George, a former Military Governor of Ondo State excoriated successive administrations, particularly the recent Muhammadu Buhari presidency from 2015 to 2023, which he described as “probably the worst in Nigerian history since 1960.”
He accused the Buhari’s administration of failing to deliver on its campaign promises, alleging that “nobody was in charge of the country” during that turbulent era.
He said: “Because successive leaders have failed to successfully grapple with the problems of nation building, Nigeria is currently facing an existential crisis.
“This crisis became complicated between 2015 and 2023 during the administration of my oga President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The Nigerian state almost collapsed because many Nigerians will agree that that eight-year era was probably the worst in Nigerian history since 1960 when we got our independence. It was as if nobody was in charge of the country.
“Everything promised before the 2015 general elections were observed in the breach by the Buhari administration.”
The former Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) did not spare the current Tinubu administration, which has been in power for about a year. While acknowledging that governance is a marathon, not a sprint, George called on Tinubu to be transparent about the nation’s challenges and swiftly rejig his economic team by seeking advice from competent Nigerians across all regions.
“Government administration is not a hundred-meter dash race. We will advise and condemn so that in a year’s time, we can assess the methodology and performance of the Government.
“Tinubu should also come out and tell Nigerians the true position of things in the country. This is not the time to play party or regional politics. Nigerians have suffered enough and they want fast results.
“This is the time for Tinubu to rejig his economic team. There are many Nigerians – from the North to the South – who can offer him economic advices that can turn this country around,” he added.
Central to George’s critique was the excessive centralization of power, which he believes has stifled development, fueled tensions, and exacerbated insecurity. He advocated for true federalism and a new “people’s constitution” to replace the current 1999 document, which he dismissed as unworkable.
Painting a bleak picture of the security situation, the PDP chieftain lamented that “some criminals have created a parallel government in Nigeria,” with various forms of insecurity plaguing every corner of the country. He urged the government to gather intelligence and decisively deal with “all enemies of state.”
In a clarion call for unity and progress, George implored Nigerians to eschew ethnic jingoism, sectarian bias, and nepotistic agendas. He emphasized the need for collective action, urging both leaders and citizens to work towards restoring Nigeria’s rightful place among nations.
“We also need to urgently do something about our so-called federalism which can be described as a ‘unitary or despotic federalism’.
“Nigeria can be a better place when we all eschew ethnic jingoism, sectarian bias and crass nepotistic agenda.
“We cannot continue like this. Something must give. There is no other way. There is no other path,” he said.
