…Insists PDP Must Respect Zoning To Avoid 2023 Mistake
By Kayode Johnson
A former military governor of old Ondo State and former Deputy National Chairman, South, of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to convoke a meeting of all former Service Chiefs and former military leaders in the country to fashion out a way out of the current security challenges facing the country.
Chief George said the convocation of the meeting of the former military leaders should be done immediately, even as he also stressed that the setting up of state police is very imperative, if Nigeria is keen about getting out of the security challenge she is currently facing.
George made this known in Lagos Wednesday at a press conference.
He appealed to President Tinubu to jettison his political sentiment and seek the input of former military leaders and former Service Chiefs as a way of putting an end to insecurity, which he said is on the increase and now a threat to the corporate existence of and moving the country forward.
George averred that if President Tinubu is committed to moving the country forward, he should study and implement the resolutions and recommendations of the 2014 National Conference, organised by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He said the resolutions of the conference addressed the numerous challenges facing the country, adding that if Nigeria should continue with the 1999 constitution, which is a creation of the military, progress will continue to elude the country.
George said, “The time to revisit the issue of state police is now. The President should not shy away from it. We copied the American constitution, but we copied it half way. In USA, each state has its own police and manage its resources.
“Tinubu should visit the 2014 confab report.The constitution we are operating now recklessly disturb the growth of our nation.
“Impact of community policing is unimaginable. We are at the precipice of total collapse, and there is the need to revisit that constitutional conference report.
“The security situation has scared investors and some companies are moving out of the country. The President should invite elders who have been in the military for discussion on a way out, and it must be done urgently.”
On the possibility of his party, the PDP, teaming up with other parties to form a mega party, George said that is not advisable, insisting that the PDP should remain on its own.
He however added that any political party or parties that want to form mega parties are free to do so.
He warned the opposition party that for it to get it right in 2027, it must honour and respect the zoning arrangement put on ground by its founding fathers, insisting that the South should be given the opportunity to produce the presidential candidate of the party in 2027.
The Atona Oodua of Yorubaland said he is emphasising the zoning arrangement, so that the party will avoid the repeat of the mistake that cost it the 2023 presidential election in 2027.
