2023: I’m still keeping my presidential ambition under wraps ― Olabode George

Former Deputy National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has said that time will determine whether he will run for the 2023 presidential election or not as he is still keeping his card to his chest.

The PDP chieftain, who noted that many Nigerians mooted the idea of the presidency to him, however, said he was more concerned about how to stabilise and unite Nigeria at this point in time.

This was just as he affirmed that he was equally qualified to steer the ship of the country as he possessed the requisite knowledge and experience to make Nigeria better if elected as president.

George, who served as a former military governor of old Ondo State, said this when some youth groups paid him a solidarity visit at his Ikoyi office.

Speaking with newsmen, the PDP chieftain said time would actually tell which direction things would go, noting that it would be wrong to turn down good wishes from well-wishers.

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“Yes, people mooted that idea of presidential or no presidential but I keep my card to my chest.

People mooted it, initially we played and laughed over it but you see, 2023 is a long haul from now and if people are wishing you well and are showing such good things to you, you don’t deflect it but time will tell,” Chief George said.

George, who is the Atona of Oodua, while urging Nigerians to focus their attention on how well the current managers of nation’s resources were addressing the problems on ground, declared that the country’s image once referred to as the giant of Africa was quite worrisome.

“We know there are managers now. Our major concern should be what role are they playing. How well are they managing the resources of the country.

“2023 is still a long time from now, that is about three years from now. Who knows who would even be alive by then? So, let us do the needful first and stabilise the platform on which you are going to move.

“So, I want to thank those who have mooted the idea of presidency and those who have spoken about it, but it is not tomorrow, it is not next week. It is not next month.

“For me, I am more concerned now with the image of the country. If you see the image of our nation. I asked a simple question, where is that giant of Africa? You know that was our nickname before.

“That is why I said everybody, in every corner, cool your temper. Hunger has no tribal marks, hunger doesn’t wear religious caps and it is all over the country,” he said.