•Bode George and Tinubu
Elder statesman and former Deputy National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has raised concern over President Bola Ahmed Tunubu’s ongoing visit to Paris, France amid series of crises in the country, saying reasons for such journey were best known to him and his handlers.
He raised this concern yesterday in a signed statement titled, ‘Whither Nigeria, my beloved country’, copy of which was made available to newsmen.
Bode George said that while Nigerians don’t feel safe anymore in their fatherland, the federal government led by President Tunubu, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Senate were only interested in recalling Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, reports Nigerian Tribune.
George, who is also the Atona Oodua of Yoruba land, described such disposition as shameful, recalling the popular album released in 1972 by Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the great and iconic Nigerian musician, titled: “Roforofo Fight” where he sang, “When Trouble Sleep, Yanga Wake Am, Wetin E dey Find, Na Palaver E Dey Find. Na Palaver E Go Get oooo.”
The PDP chieftain, while expressing concern over the state of affairs in the country, noted that those in charge of the polity had closed their ears to reasoning and deliberately came out with policies capable of disintegrating the country, saying that it was disheartening that Nigeria was precariously and dangerously staggering on the path of self-destruction.
This was just as he noted fact is that history is a faithful record of the past, and also a prophecy of what is coming, saying that he saw what led to the collapse of the First and Second republics being repeated by the APC-led federal government as, according to him, those in charge seemed to have refused to learn lessons from events of the past, while pitiably, “lovers of Nigeria are too timid to challenge them.”
“This was exactly what happened from mid-30s to early 40s when Adolf Hitler of Germany, Benito Mussolini of Italy and the military apologists in Japan held the world by the jugular. It was almost too late before Americans, Britons and others rose to the occasion to save the world.
“Today, and with the series of crises, insecurity, hunger, joblessness and other vices in the country, President Bola Tinubu has taken off to Paris, France for reasons best known to him and his handlers.
“Nigerians don’t feel safe anymore in their fatherland, but the federal government, All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Senate are only interested in recalling Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. What a shame!
“Aside from the fact that history is a faithful record of the past, it is also a prophecy of what is coming. That is why Fela’s song is still apt, decades after. Today, I see what led to the collapse of the First and Second republics being repeated by the APC-led federal government,” he warned.
George noted the handling of Lagos State Assembly saga involving Speaker Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa’s impeachment and reinstatement, the declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers State which led to suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and lawmakers, but which was carried out without the National Assembly mandatory two thirds approval, declaring that it was disheartening that Nigeria had been on the spot globally for wrong reasons.
Recalling that former President Olusegun Obasanjo said recently that democracy was dying, George said such was not the situation, but rather it was the operators, especially, Executive and Legislature, that were losing their sense of responsibility, declaring such a big shame.
“Nigerians could not believe it when security was withdrawn from an elected speaker in Lagos and deployed to a deposed speaker. A legislative decision was also overturned by the unilateral action of the president in Abuja.
“In Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and lawmakers were suspended, and the National Assembly, without the mandatory two-thirds approval, rubber-stamped this unconstitutional action by voice vote.
“The partisan handling of the allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, by the Senate and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is an embarrassment to the country.
“It is disheartening that Nigeria is on the spot globally for the wrong reasons. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo said recently that democracy is dying. I disagree. Democracy is not dying. Rather, the operators, especially, Executive and Legislature, are losing their sense of responsibility. It is a big shame.
“Look at the way Nigeria is being embarrassed globally with the way Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is being persecuted, victimised and hounded. Why? She made an allegation, and instead of setting up an independent body to check the claims, she was suspended.
“Now, they are trying to recall her, using the machinery of state. What is the meaning of this nonsense? Are we this cheap as a country? What type of democracy is this?
“Initially, INEC said the process did not follow laid-down regulations and procedures. In less than 24 hours, the story changed. Now, INEC wants to scrutinise the list of signatories submitted. Seriously? Does what is going on, with many loopholes, make sense to anybody? Why the inconsistency?
“Look at the gang up against Natasha in the Senate. Don’t these Senators have daughters?
“With insecurity, corruption and poverty all over the place, is the Natasha issue the most topical now? She is a very strong member of our party and we will not allow this humiliation at all.
“The law says two-thirds of members of the National Assembly must approve a declaration of a state of emergency. That is, 74 Senators and 240 Representatives. So, what is the meaning of voice vote? Did they get these numbers before the emergency rule was okayed? That’s why I commend Senators Tambuwal, Dickson, Abaribe and others who kicked against the illegality and injustice in the Senate,” George said.
George said the handling of Natasha’s matter was shameful, insisting that this attempt to recall her was being stage managed by APC and the Senate, querying: “How would the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) identify all the signatories and their details?”
He alleged that some characters just went to the INEC office with bags of papers, saying that it amounted to arrant nonsense that such had become official documents.
“I also insist that this attempt to recall Natasha is being stage managed by the APC and Senate, and it is shameful. How will INEC identify all the signatories and their details? Some characters just went to the INEC office with bags of papers and, boom! It has become official documents. What arrant nonsense? This is clear manipulation and it will not stand.
“The government also tried to stop her from going to Kogi State, but look at the way she went there in a chopper. Look at the mammoth crowd that received her. Now, the government is embarrassed.
“This presidential system we are operating now is worse than what happens in a military organisation.
“I have daughters, and I will not allow anybody to treat my daughters the way they are treating Natasha. That’s why many women are afraid of vying for elective offices. The inconsistencies in INEC’s position will continue to erode public confidence in our democracy. This is no longer a democracy. It portends what is coming in 2027.
“Look at what is happening in Bayelsa State, the headquarters of the Ijaw Nation. FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, is reportedly going there to attend a rally and the state government has told him to back off.
“With what is happening in neighbouring Rivers, why should Wike be allowed to go to Yenagoa and heat up tension in the state? Kogi State Police Command banned rallies and political gatherings because of Natasha. In Bayelsa, Wike is being encouraged to breach the peace in the state, by trying to poke the eyes of the Ijaw People. This will be a double tragedy and it makes no political sense at all. Can this be interpreted that the Federal Government is encouraging lawlessness nationwide?” the PDP chieftain queried.
George, however, cautioned President Tunubu to take things easy, just as he also cautioned others to be aware that power is transient and not absolute, adding: “The power you wield today is not permanent, you only know the beginning of a crisis, you don’t know where and when it will end.
“Nigerians are suffering but these operators don’t care about the people. They want to get Natasha out of the system and get Rivers through the back door.
“Ramadan just ended and Lent is still on. May God forgive all of them. Since God, the Almighty, has given us the mouth to talk, we will continue to speak truth to power.
“Mr. President kadankada, nwayo nwayo, te jeje o.
“Happy Sallah to all Nigerians.”
