A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olabode George, has told the National Chairman of the party, Iyorcha Ayu, to honour his words to resign once a Northerner emerges as the presidential candidate of the PDP for the 2023 elections.
He said this on Wednesday in Lagos when he spoke with select newsmen on the state of the nation and 2023 polls.
George said Ayu made the promise before the primaries of the party where former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged as the PDP presidential candidate for the 2023 polls.
Speaking against the backdrop of the crisis rocking the party over the emergence of Abubakar and the subsequent face-off with the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, over the loss of the presidential ticket and failure to pick him as vice presidential candidate, he said now was the time to balance the equation in the party.
He said the zoning adopted by the founding fathers of the party covered six positions: President, Vice President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and National Chairman.
He said once the presidential candidate and president come from any of the two blocks of North or South, the other produces the National Chairman.
George said: “Ayu once said if the presidential candidate should emerge from the North, he will resign.
“I want to take him for his word.
“Why are you now trying to reverse the role?
“Your word must be your bond.
“After the chairman was zoned to the North, the presidential slot should have been zoned to the South.
“With what the APC (All Progressives Congress) has done to Nigeria, zoning is now more important than in 1999.
“However, I appeal to all sides to sheathe their swords.
“National elections are coming and the party must be ready to convince Nigerians that it can manage the resources of the country in the best interest of the people.
“It is absolutely necessary and makes a lot of sense for the candidate who wants to wear the big crown, Atiku Abubakar, to start the networking of people and multiple congregation effort that will make the party succeed.
“I urge Ezenwo Wike to maintain an abiding interest and fidelity to the PDP, which is the best in terms of national outlook, format and reputation.
“Politicians should bear in mind that in politics, you win some and you lose some.”
George then urged Wike not to join the APC despite misgivings over the choice of Abubakar’s running mate, saying: “You don’t win all the time.”
He added: “In democracy, we must talk and exchange ideas.
“We must agree and disagree without actually being disagreeable.
“Any organisation with human beings will always have issues, but the ability to manage that crisis will be the determining factor.
“I want to appeal to all sides to sheathe their swords.
“Nigerians are waiting for us and we must convince them that we can manage the resources of the country in an equitable manner.
“They should all ceasefire.
“Statements of arrogance and innuendos that can destroy the party should stop forthwith.
“Zoning has sustained our democracy for this long because it’s the concept that established our party.
“My plea is that all should cool temper because if we don’t get it right this time around, this nation will never forgive us.
“Nigerians are waiting for the PDP.”
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