A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has criticised Alhaji Atiku Abubakar over his recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari to endear him to his coalition campaign.
George was disappointed by Atiku’s decision, stating the former vice president abandoned his party members to discuss his coalition agenda with Buhari, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Atiku has been urging opposition leaders across the country to join a mega party to dethrone President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
However, the former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP has dismissed the coalition agenda, implying that it is an attempt to weaken the PDP, the country’s main opposition party.
The PDP chieftain, speaking on Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Tuesday, also questioned the objective of Atiku’s big party, claiming that the former vice president’s push for a coalition is motivated by personal ambition.
“Those who are now forming a mega party – what is the purpose of that mega party? You’re a member of a solid organisation; you want to pull out. You are meeting with Baba Buhari. Is he a member of our party? Have you discussed your mega something with anybody else? Do you think it is a private fiefdom? Is PDP a private company? Nobody owns PDP. You bring it within the party. Let us discuss it. Once it is approved, then you move. You don’t just flip-flop because of your personal ambition,” he said.
On Atiku’s visit to Buhari, the PDP chieftain attacked the ex-vice president for bringing his coalition campaign to Buhari, who, according to George, crushed him ‘like a little kid’ in the 2019 presidential election.
The former governor of Ondo State also questioned Atiku’s motivation for visiting Buhari alongside his northern counterparts.
“Look at General Buhari shaking hands with these guys. Is he a member of our party? We presented you against him, and he flopped you like a little kid, and then you were running there. And if you look at the congregation of those who visited Buhari, they are all from one side; who are the others from our party? No, it’s not done that way. In fact, my conclusion was, What is this man trying to do with this mega party? Is he trying to divide Nigeria between the north and the south?” George queried.
According to George, Atiku’s proposal is a ploy to secure another presidential ticket, with little regard for the country’s unwritten zoning agreement between the north and south.
Atiku first received the ticket in 2019, and he received it again in 2023. Now he’s trying to get the ticket again.
Is it a private fiefdom? Who was the former president? Wasn’t it General Buhari? Where has he come from? Did he originate from Yoruba or Igbo land? All we are saying is that we have a system of eight years of presidency in the north and eight years of presidency in the south.
Rather than forming a mega party “for Atiku’s personal ambition”, George asked PDP members to “come home and work together” for the party in the run-up to 2027.
