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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has said he bears no grudge against president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
George and Tinubu have had a running battle , with the former declaring, in the build up to the February 25 presidential election, that he will go on exile if the latter emerges as president.
However, some elders in Lagos State met with the PDP chieftain on Saturday night, urging him to support and collaborate with Tinubu as he assumes office on May 29.
The meeting to reconcile George and Tinubu was brokered by a former judge of the Lagos State High Court, Justice Ishola Olorunnimbe (rtd).
The meeting, which ended very late on Saturday night, had in attendance leader of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision making organ in the Lagos State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Tajudeen Olusi; Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; former deputy governors of Lagos State, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele and Prince Abiodun Ogunleye.
Others present are former acting Secretary of the PDP, Chief Remi Akitoye; former Minister of Communications, Major General Tajudeen Olarenwaju (rtd); Chief Gbadebo Dallas and Mrs Onikepo Oshodi
Speaking after the meeting, George appreciated the elders for the peace parley, adding that it is a positive step in birthing a new Lagos.
On the request made by the APC leaders that he should throw his weight behind Tinubu, the PDP chieftain said he has nothing personal against the president-elect.
He said: “Let me say there is no political differences. Justice Olorunnimbe is like a father, we respect our fathers in Lagos. When I got an invitation from Papa Olusi that he wanted to come and see me the first time, I told my friend who delivered the message that I should go and visit him and not the other way round. But Papa Olusi said he had to come and see me and that it had to do with the situation in Lagos.
“This is the second time Papa Olusi is visiting. We had detailed discussions that bothered on the unity of Lagos. I must say we re-established the fact that the culture of Lagos is to accept and accommodate other tribes.
“Secondly, on the details of us working together, because a divided house will be a defeated house, I have explained to Baba Olusi that there is no problem about working together. The kind of platform we are trying to have is for a unity of purpose in Lagos State, irrespective of party affiliations.
“On the bottom line, you are a Lagosian, though we can have different political affiliations.
“Now, they came for three things; they talked about the running battle I had with Tinubu and I have said I absolutely have no battle, nothing personal between him and I.
“What had happened has gone, vengeance is not mine, but the Almighty God. We will have differences, we will disagree but we must not be disagreeable.
“They made a request which we are all looking at. They requested that someday we should also congratulate Asiwaju and we said yes, but that I belong to a political party. They are all in court now.
“Let us finish the court cases. Whichever way that goes, the issue of congratulating him or not will come to fruition. I have nothing personal and nothing happens without the Almighty God. As a believer, that is my school of thought.”