A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has explained why the party has been unable to win the governorship election in Lagos State since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
George, who has been criticised in some quarters over his failure to lead the party to victory in the state, described the process of electioneering in the country as a “joke.”
He said the electioneering process in Nigeria is “terrible and heart-wrenching,” appealing to President Muhammadu revisit the report of the constitutional conference so as to restructure the country.
When asked why the PDP has been unable to win the governorship election in Lagos State, George said: “That is a load of trash. The process of electioneering in this country in the 21st century is a joke, where people are carrying papers by hand from your polling unit to the collation centre. It doesn’t make sense. We’ve been talking about electronic voting, nobody is listening. It’s a joke. Somebody in Lagos has stolen so much money that he’s richer than Nigeria, so how can you win an election?
Look at the last local government elections in Lagos. The people were so despondent that they didn’t come out to vote. It was a disgrace because they are tired of this life. You say, ‘You cannot win.’ How can you win? Do you know the humongous amount of money the fellow has stolen? With people who are hungry and angry, they would buy them out and write the results for them. I don’t know where this country is going. We need to speak truth to power. Our process is terrible and very heart-wrenching. What is the challenge? Why can’t we do e-voting, so that the votes of the people and the will of the people will be respected? What a joke! We are not serious.
“2023 is around the corner and I am pleading with the President that they should bring out the report of the constitutional conference, revisit it and let us restructure the country. That is the only thing that can bring peace to this nation. All the people jumping all over the place, thinking, ‘In 2023, I’m going to be president,’ it’s all a joke. The electoral process is faulty, so the results will be faulty. The people you will then say are members of the National Assembly or governors will be faulty. We have tried this structure, it is not working and it can never work.”
George also said that All Progressives Congress(APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu doe not have the qualities to be the President of Nigeria.
Reactng to the rumoured presidential ambition of the former Lagos governor in 2023, he said:” Well, it is his personal decision. For me, I don’t think he has that character, that is my personal belief. I’m not God, but this nation needs a God-fearing, committed, dedicated, selfless human being to be the President of the country. Like I said, it is my own opinion, but he cannot wear that cap.”
