Bode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, has urged President Bola Tinubu to carry out the recommendations of the 2014 Constitutional Conference in honour of Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Edwin Clark.
George made the appeal during a media event in Lagos on Friday.
Adebanjo, the late leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, will be buried today (Saturday) in Ogun State. He died at the age of 96 on February 14.
Similarly, Clark, the late Niger Delta leader who died at the age of 97 on February 17, will be buried on May 13 in Delta State.
Both deceased nationalists are reported to have influenced and participated in the 2014 Constitutional Conference called by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Speaking about how to immortalise the duo, George stated that the best way to commemorate them was to release and implement the resolutions into which they devoted all of their life’s expertise in the public good.
The retired naval commodore and former military governor of Ondo State said he became closer to Adebanjo and Clark during the Confab after working with them on the same subcommittee on which constitutional system to choose.
George said, “Mr President, I am appealing to you today, May 2, to release the report of the 2014 Confab for the benefit of the people of this country, in memory of the two old men, to immortalise their names.
“These people (Adebanjo, Clark, and other elder statesmen) are crying to Tinubu to release and implement that report.
“The report was unanimously agreed upon at the plenary session by the delegates. That is where we can achieve peace.
“When I saw all the work — the contributions of these two elders — and looked at it, they died three days apart. I am not afraid to say we are going to take over from where they stopped.”
According to him, it is critical for the nation to examine the report now that the ship of state appears to be drifting in terms of the economy, politics, security, and other issues.
He went on to say that the current system and constitution were no longer capable of serving the Nigerian people’s needs and ambitions.
The elder statesman stated that following the Confab decisions would contribute to the resolution of a number of national issues, including corruption, nepotism, sectionalism, and poverty.
Speaking about security and economic difficulties, George asked the president to continue addressing hardship and security risks.
He also emphasised the importance of reforming the electoral process so that elections represent the desire of the people.
On the recent defections of some PDP leaders to the ruling APC, the PDP chieftain stated that he had yet to determine what drew the defectors to the APC.
However, he stated that any internal PDP conflicts must be resolved as soon as possible in order to restore party credibility.
George stated that “the PDP is not finished” while encouraging PDP leaders to set aside personal ambitions and work in the party’s national interest.
