By Ihechi Enyinnaya
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a member of the Board of Trustees(BoT), Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George, called for the immediate discipline of party members whose actions have been undermining the party’s integrity. He made it clear that no individual, no matter how influential, is exempt from accountability within the PDP, asserting that “nobody is too big to be disciplined by our party,” and urging the party leadership to act decisively in addressing disloyalty.
He said this recently in a media chat: “I want to send this advice to all that this humiliation of our party and elders must stop. The leadership of the party must also wield the big stick. Nobody is too big to be disciplined by our party. Also, nobody is too important to be expelled. Only patriotic members of our party are indispensable. If you think you are a member of our party and you are arrogantly working against us, I can tell you that your days are numbered.”
He stressed the need for unity and discipline within the party, calling out members who, in his view, are more concerned with personal ambition than the party’s collective progress. “Enough of this arrant nonsense,” he declared, urging party leaders to act swiftly to bring together warring factions for a peace meeting. He cautioned that failure to do so could lead the PDP down a dangerous path to irrelevance by 2027.
George’s speech was also a stark reminder of the party’s long-standing principles of civility and democracy, which he felt were being undermined by certain members with “belligerent attitudes.” In a pointed remark, he warned, “If you think you are a member of our party and you are arrogantly working against us, I can tell you that your days are numbered.”
Turning his attention to the broader political landscape, Bode George also addressed the emerging global and domestic issues that could impact Nigeria’s stability. Reflecting on the rise of Donald Trump and the shift in global politics, George expressed concern over the “new world order” that Trump’s policies could usher in, particularly as they challenge multilateralism. He raised questions about what impact these global shifts could have on Nigeria, urging President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action to address the country’s economic woes.
“Are the policies of the Bola Tinubu-led administration sustainable?” George asked, urging the government to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, many of whom are feeling the effects of economic hardship. “Nigerians are hungry and angry,” he noted, emphasizing that 2025 was a crucial year for reversing the country’s economic trajectory.
He called for action within the PDP and for Nigeria as a whole. He urged party leaders to put aside personal ambitions for the greater good of the country and to ensure that the party remains focused on its values of fairness, equity, and justice. He warned that a divided PDP would inevitably lead to disaster in 2027, stressing the importance of unity for the survival of the party and the nation.
Bode George called for discipline and reform within the PDP will likely continue to reverberate across the party’s ranks, urging both leaders and members alike to reflect on their roles in safeguarding the party’s future.