Former deputy national chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has condemned the denial of access to his party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) members at the national secretariat in Abuja.
The PDP chieftain claimed the measure was a tactic to undermine internal democracy in response to members being barred from attending the National Executive Committee meeting at the party’s headquarters on Monday.
The situation compelled the BoT to relocate the meeting to the Yar’Adua Centre in the Central Business District.
George said, “They said we will not hold our meetings in our office? What is going on? We must avoid that pitfall, the madness. What is it? Can’t we sit and talk? What is the essence of democracy? Nigerians are watching.
“You came to our office, surrounded by police, because you want to have a meeting? You want to turn us into North Korea? Or turn this country into Russia? We will not allow it.
“Nigerians will not allow it. I have seen both sides. Let them be very careful. Allow everybody to walk according to the law of the land.”
The PDP chieftain criticised the police for barricading the party secretariat, claiming it violated the rights of party elders.
According to George, some security officials at the scene said they were following orders from upstairs.
“You hear biblically — this is the voice of Jacob, but the hand of Esau. Whoever gave the order from above. We have heard it before. I have been on both sides — the military and the civil,” he said.
