Former Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George, has identified tribalism and religious bigotry as the two devils haunting the Nigerian nation.
The elder statesman made this disclosure in an interview on Friday in Lagos.
He warned that unless Nigeria undergoes real restructuring, its democratic experiment will continue to falter.
George lamented the greed and self-interest that have undermined the country’s potential.
He said, “God gave us a massive land, rich in both natural and human resources. There is no part of this country that isn’t blessed. Yet, greed and self-interest continue to plague us.”
The PDP Chieftain accused political elites of failing to prioritize governance. Thereby, allowing corruption and inefficiency to fester.
He said, “Other nations envy what we have, but we waste it. Look at Ghana; during their elections, the sitting president conceded before the final results. No manipulations, no drama. Here, we introduce a new system, and suddenly, there’s a glitch. It’s disgraceful.”
George pointed to tribalism and religious bigotry as the two major obstacles to national unity and good governance.
“People make a big deal out of religious differences. ‘Oh, this one is a Muslim,’ or ‘that one is a Christian.’ But what does that have to do with the price of milk?” he queried.
The elder statesman shared personal experiences of religious tolerance. He narrated how his older sister married a Muslim and became an Alhaja.
“She remained my sister till the end. So, I ask, what do religious labels have to do with how we treat one another?” George asked
According to him, these divisions are deliberately fueled by politicians for personal gain.
“The British left us two devils: tribalism and religious bigotry. But tell me, what does religion have to do with governance?,” he asked.
The PDP Chieftain insisted that the current political system is fundamentally flawed.
“It has failed, absolutely. The current Constitution is the root of our problems. Every month, States go to Abuja to collect their share of national revenue. Instead of generating their own. That’s not democracy. It’s a unitary system disguised as federalism,” he asserted.
As a way out of the quagmire, George advocated for a return to the six-zone structure proposed by former Vice President Alex Ekwueme. He argued that it provided a more equitable distribution of power.
“When one region hoards all the power, resentment builds. That’s exactly what happened to my party. The presidential candidate, national chairman, and other key positions all came from the same region. That was a fundamental mistake,” George explained.
George, therefore, insisted that for Nigeria to move forward, meaningful restructuring is the only solution.
He said, “Not just any restructuring, but a real, practical one. If we continue on this path, we are only postponing disaster.”
The elder statesman warned that failure to implement genuine reforms would deepen the country’s woes.
He said, “People are suffering. The price of fuel is crippling businesses. Yet those who control the banking sector are making billions. If the president truly cares about the people, he should work with the financial sector to stabilize fuel prices.”
George, therefore, called for urgent reforms to solve the current economic hardship, insecurity, and rising youth unemployment.
“We had trade centers where people learned carpentry, tailoring, and hairdressing. Now, nothing. That’s why we have a Yahoo Yahoo epidemic. Because the system has failed young people,” he said.
The PDP Chieftain issued a stern warning to political leaders on the transitory nature of power.
He said, “Nothing lasts forever. Power is temporary. If you are in leadership, use the opportunity to serve, not to loot. A land of plenty should not have starving citizens. If we don’t change course, history will not be kind to us.”
source: Vanguard
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