Following political crises rocking Osun, Rivers states and currently Lagos State, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to allow despotic and unpatriotic elements to destroy the present democratic process.
George, who is also the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland, gave the warning in an open letter to President Tinubu, a copy of which was made available to newsmen, declaring that Nigeria was becoming an embarrassment in the comity of nations due to some actions which he said defied logic.
The PDP chieftain, in an open letter to entitled: ‘From Osun to Lagos and Rivers: Darkness Looms’, said the local council election crisis in Osun State a few weeks ago which led to killings was not only illogical but heartless, even as he quickly cited the crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly as well as that of Rivers State, describing them as worrisome.
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According to George, the country had now found herself in a situation in which some people interpreted the law to suit their selfish interests, saying pointedly that what happened in Osun was a straightforward case, but government officials at the Federal level complicated the situation with unnecessary interpretation of the law.
The PDP chieftain decried the situation, saying that it was dangerous to the nation’s democracy, wondering why people were so desperate, while ignoring decorum, just as he further expressed worry about likely return to what happened in the First Republic which started in 1962 and what equally happened in the Second Republic which started in 1983.
“In Nigeria, the law is being turned upside down and this is dangerous to our democracy. Why are people so desperate? What exactly is the issue? Can’t we do something with decorum?
“Some of us are worried because we lived through what happened in the First Republic, which started in 1962 and what happened in the Second Republic, which started in 1983.
“We now have a situation in which some people interpret the law to suit their selfish interests.
“What happened in Osun is a straightforward case, but government officials at the federal level complicated the situation with unnecessary interpretation of the law.
“In Nigeria, the law is being turned upside down and this is dangerous to our democracy. Why are people so desperate? What exactly is the issue? Can’t we do something with decorum?” he queried.
“Some of us are worried because we lived through what happened in the First Republic, which started in 1962 and what happened in the Second Republic which started in 1983,” he said.
George, while urging President Tinubu not to allow a reenactment of the collapse of the current Republic, said that the current crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly was absolute lunacy and a show of shame.
The Atona Oodua of Yoruba land recalled that the reinstated Speaker Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa was impeached by 36 out of 40 members impeached Mudashiru Obasa, describing his return to the seat as not only shocking, but equally “an international embarrassment and the joke is on the presidency.”
“Tinubu should not allow a reenactment of the collapse of these Republics. Look at what is happening in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
“It is absolute lunacy. Thirty-six out of 40 members impeached Mudashiru Obasa, and since then, we have witnessed this embarrassing show of shame.
“To say the return of Obasa as Speaker on Monday is shocking is an understatement. It is an international embarrassment and the joke is on the presidency.
“Obasa was impeached on January 13 and since then, agents of darkness turned the Assembly to a theatre of war. What sort of democracy is this?
“Lawmakers have the powers to choose their leaders but since they took that decision, it has been one crisis after the other, fuelled by extraneous forces. Why should Nigeria and Nigerians be embarrassed like this globally? What is our offence?
“Why should this embarrassing and disgraceful behaviour be allowed by the powers that be in Abuja? Why should the Centre of Excellence be turned to Centre of Confusion?” he queried.
On Rivers crisis, Chief George, while adjudging the state as the economic lifewire of the country, flayed the verdict delivered by the Supreme Court in respect of the recently local government polls, such had turned the state into total mess, wondering what sort of judgement would “subject people to misery, extreme pain, wretchedness, distress and unhappiness of no Federal allocation, no salary, no infrastructure, no food and other essentials of life?”
“I am not a lawyer but I see the verdict as disheartening. This can cause problems for the country. That judgemènt is not fair to the people of Rivers State.
“I just pray that some elements will not start bursting oil pipelines, which may eventually affect the country’s revenue. The people are hungry and angry. Tinubu and other APC chiefs who are desperate to capture all states should have a rethink.
“In the country today, we have deficits in areas of democracy and rule of law. That is why everything is upside down. Also, electoral irregularities such as intimidation and vote buying continue to be widespread.
“These became glaring during the Edo and Ondo governorship elections in September and November 2024 when vote buying was done in the open.
“The security situation has also deteriorated. Youth Corps members, serving their fatherland, are now being abducted by terrorists. Terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and communal clashes have become the order of the day.
“Instead of the president tackling these vices, APC members are busy sowing seeds of crises all over the country.
“This is the time to say enough is enough.
“Lagos is the largest electoral state in Nigeria, followed by Kano and Rivers. If we deliberately make two of the three states to be unstable, what does that portend for Nigeria?
“I want to remind all Nigerians, especially those in government, that goodness is an investment that will never fail.
“Whatever good you do will also have a reward. Where there is love, there is no need for perfection. I wish Nigeria and Nigerians the very best every time,” the letter read.
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