Bode George seeks N/East leaders’ backing as PDP chairman

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, on Thursday in Abuja met with leaders of the party from the North-East zone in continuation of consultations with stakeholders over his bid for the national chairmanship seat of the party.

Chief George held separate meetings first with the North East zonal executive led by Ambassador Emmanuel Njuwa, national vice chairman, North East zone, at Ibro Hotel, Abuja and thereafter, with the zonal caucus at Transcorp Hilton, with the two PDP governors from the zone, namely Governors Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State and Darius Ishiaku of Taraba State in attendance.

Chief George, according to a release from his campaign office, sought the support of stakeholders from the zone for his ambition, promising to reposition and rebrand the PDP in line with the vision of its founding fathers in order to accommodate all interests and promote the common good above personal ambition.

The PDP chieftain praised the founding fathers such as Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Chief Alex Ekwueme, the Late Alhaji Abubakar Rimi and the Late Chief Solomon Lar for their foresight in introducing the zoning system to give every part of the country a sense of belonging and also for their insistence that the party be guided by justice, equity and fairness.

George said he was the best candidate that could take the party to greater heights and ensure its return to the hearts of the people and to power in 2019 based on his vast knowledge of the affairs of the party, having occupied the post of national vice chairman and deputy national chairman.

The former PDP deputy national chairman recalled that he successfully discharged various assignments given to him by the party across the country in the past which he said included settlement of conflicts and promotion of the party with resultant electoral victories such as the historic wrestliing of five out of the six South- West states from the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 2003.

The National Vice Chairman of PDP, South West zone, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, who accompanied Chief George and his large entourage, informed the PDP North East leaders that the South West zone had adopted Chief George as the prefered candidate of the zone.

He urged PDP leaders in the North- East and other parts of the country to support the choice of the zone since the position in contest had been zoned to South- West.

Ambassador Njuwa, in his reponse, said Chief George and his laudable track record in the party was well known and that his competence and fitness for the post of national chairman could never be in doubt.

He expressed the support of the North East zone for Chief George and urged him to extend his consultations as wide as possible across the country.