A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and an elder stateman, Chief Bode George, has warned President Bola Tinubu not to allow despotic and unpatriotic elements to derail Nigeria’s democracy.
In an open letter titled “From Osun to Lagos and Rivers: Darkness Looms,” George expressed concern that Nigeria is becoming an international embarrassment due to political crises that defy logic and undermine democracy.
Chief Bode George criticized the recent Osun State council crisis, which led to violence and killings, describing it as an avoidable scenario if political players were concerned about the welfare of the state.
“We now have a situation where some people interpret the law to suit their selfish interests. The Osun crisis was a straightforward case, yet federal officials complicated it with unnecessary legal manipulations.
Speaking on the political turmoil in Lagos State, George described the impeachment and reinstatement of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa as an embarrassing show of shame.
“Thirty-six out of 40 lawmakers impeached Obasa on January 13, yet forces within the system turned the Assembly into a battlefield. His return as Speaker is not only shocking but an international disgrace. The joke is on the presidency.”
He condemned the external interference fueling the crisis, asking why Nigeria and its democracy should be subjected to such ridicule on the global stage.
George also raised concerns about the political and economic crisis in Rivers State, stating that the recent judgment affecting governance and federal allocation is unfair to the people.
“What sort of judgment subjects people to extreme misery—no federal allocation, no salaries, no infrastructure, no food, and no hope?”
He warned that if the situation remains unresolved, aggrieved elements may resort to vandalizing oil pipelines, which could cripple Nigeria’s revenue.
George urged President Tinubu and APC leaders to reconsider their approach to governance, warning that the current deficits in democracy and rule of law are worsening electoral irregularities, insecurity, and political instability.
He pointed to vote buying in the Edo and Ondo governorship elections as evidence of a failing system and lamented that terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping have become rampant while the government focuses on political power struggles.
“Instead of tackling these crises, APC members are busy sowing the seeds of discord across the country. This is the time to say enough is enough.”
He warned that deliberately destabilizing Lagos and Rivers—two of Nigeria’s three largest electoral states—could have grave consequences for the nation’s future.
“Goodness is an investment that never fails. Those in government must remember that their actions will have consequences. Where there is love, there is no need for perfection.”
Vanguard
