Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his continued pursuit of the presidency, describing his ambition as being driven by greed and a disregard for party rotation principles.
George stated that Nigeria’s presidency must remain in the South until 2031 to complete an uninterrupted eight-year cycle, following former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure representing the North.
Speaking during an exclusive interview on Adamimogo 93.1 FM, Lagos, the PDP chieftain insisted that the zoning formula established by the party’s founding fathers remains the only framework capable of preserving national cohesion and balancing regional interests.
According to him, the rotational agreement created six top national offices mapped against the country’s six geopolitical zones, stipulating that power must alternate between the North and South every eight years.
“He has the temerity, the arrogance, or the nuisance value of wanting to contest,” George said of Atiku. “Buhari was from Katsina and ran his eight years. We must be allowed to run the eight years in the South.
“Is there any other presidential candidate from the North? No, because they respected that doctrine. Why can’t he respect the goodness that these brothers put forward? It is greed and avarice.”
George advised northern politicians, including Atiku and former Senate President David Mark, to withdraw and wait until 2031, when the South’s eight-year cycle concludes.
He also addressed the internal leadership crisis rocking the PDP, cautioning President Bola Tinubu against backing factional groups associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to suppress the party.
The elder statesman accused Wike of undermining the PDP while working in concert with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“My advice to the president is that whatever Wike is pushing for him, that PDP should not be listed on the ballot for an election, should be rejected,” George said. “He does not need any crisis. PDP is the largest party in Africa, and somebody is manipulating it.
“He says he is leading the PDP at the same time openly supporting the APC. Does that make any political sense? The president does not need all these distractions.”
On the legal disputes concerning the control of the party and candidate recognition ahead of the polls, George affirmed that the party’s mainstream leadership remains in court to challenge unfavourable rulings.
He noted that the party has taken its grievances to the Court of Appeal and will proceed to the Supreme Court if necessary to ensure that decisions reached at its national convention are upheld.
Atiku’s Bid Driven By Greed + Why Tinubu Must Ensure True PDP Is On Ballot – Chief Bode George
