By Kolawole Ojebisi
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has criticised former Deputy National Chairman (South-West), Chief Bode George, over his stance on the ongoing coalition talks by some opposition parties.
Speaking in an interview with Punch Newspaper on Monday, Lawal advised George to retire from active politics adding that the PDP chieftain has lost political value.
The ex-scribe to the Federal Government’s reaction was prompted by George’s support for the resolutions rejecting any talk of the PDP joining a coalition or merger ahead of the 2027 elections.
Governor Muhammed Bala of Bauchi had, at a meeting of the governors elected on the platform of the PDP in Ibadan last week, stated that while the party remains open to welcoming individuals, parties, or groups willing to join its platform, it would not dissolve into or merge with any existing or emerging political bloc.
The PDP govs’ stance received a nod of approval from Bode George as the party’s chieftain emphasized that it would be disgraceful for a dominant party like the PDP to chase alliances with fledgling, structure-less political movements.
George said this while appearing on Channel’s TV’s “Politics Today’ in the wake of the Governors’ meeting last week.
The former military administrator also insisted that the PDP would not repeat the mistake of allowing Atiku Abubakar to fly the party’s flag as presidential candidate in 2027.
“It would be unfair to give the ticket to another northerner after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari. That would be unjust,” George argued.
However, Lawa, who is a key figure in a growing alliance that includes Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, fired back at George maintaining that the retired naval officer has lost political relevance.
“I respect Bode George as a retired military officer. He was a governor when I was still a student in military school.But in terms of political value, I think his age and experience should have taught him to take a back seat and enjoy his retirement.
“Oga George has never delivered substantial votes for the PDP in Lagos. His past roles give him some credibility, but I don’t think he speaks for the party now. The PDP will sort itself out.” Lawal said.
