Bode George Urges Atiku to Step Down: “Don’t Waste Your Time in 2027”
Chief Bode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to end his 31-year-long pursuit of the presidency, advising him to retire from the race ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking at a press conference in his Ikoyi, Lagos office, George stated that it was time for Atiku to step back from the presidential contest and embrace the role of an elder statesman. He pointed out that Atiku, who will be 81 years old in 2027, has been vying for the presidency since 1993 and should now focus on leaving a legacy for future generations.
“To Atiku, my advice is simple: you will be 81 years old in 2027, and you’ve been running for president since 1993. It’s time to take a step back and act as an elder. I urge you in the name of Allah to take it easy and leave your ambitions to posterity,” George said.
The PDP veteran also criticized the internal divisions within the party, which he claimed were driven by selfish personal ambitions at the expense of national interests. He expressed concern that such factions could lead to the party’s collapse, urging party elders to intervene.
“Some members of the party are more interested in personal gain than the collective good of the party and the nation. Instead of focusing on rebuilding the PDP, they are undermining it for their own purposes. We cannot allow this party to crumble,” George warned, describing certain PDP members as divisive and self-serving.
He also directed his criticism at those members of the party who have been cozying up to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) without formally defecting, calling them “cowards” for not being bold enough to join the APC openly.
“There are members of our party who are romancing the APC, yet they refuse to leave the PDP. If they are not willing to stand by their convictions, they should just leave. No one is big enough to hold the party hostage,” George added.
George also weighed in on the ongoing feud between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, urging Wike to de-escalate tensions and focus on party unity. He called on party elders to mediate the conflict, emphasizing the importance of resolving the dispute for the sake of the PDP’s future.
“My advice to Wike is simple: you are my political son, and I urge you to calm down. The party is bigger than any individual, and it’s time to heal and work together. The crisis in Rivers State is unnecessary and only hurts the PDP,” George said.
He expressed disappointment that some party members were fueling the dispute between Fubara and Wike for their own political benefit, questioning why they were not taking steps to resolve the situation.
In conclusion, George warned that the PDP could not continue on its current path of internal conflict and division. He urged the party’s leadership to intervene and restore unity before it was too late.
“We cannot continue like this. The PDP needs to come together, learn from past mistakes, and move forward as one,” he said.
