Posted by By UCHE USIM on
Former Vice Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), South-West Zone, Chief Olabode George has lambasted those who peddled rumours that his overseas trip was a ploy to run away from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), describing them as demons whose stock-in-trade is mischief.
Former Vice Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), South-West Zone, Chief Olabode George has lambasted those who peddled rumours that his overseas trip was a ploy to run away from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), describing them as demons whose stock-in-trade is mischief.
Speaking with Aviation correspondents on arrival from the United Kingdom, last Saturday night Bode George said he was never afraid of answering questions from the anti-graft agency, pointing out his tenure as a part-time board chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, (NPA) was one laced with a lot of limitations.
His words: 'Me? Run away? That is rubbish. I'm back now and whoever wrote that article should bring his/her EFCC to come and arrest me. So, there's no need to clear any air. Is it a crime for one to be on holidays? So, if you work continuously at the highest echelon of the political party for nine years and you decide to have a break from the day-to-day running of your office, what is wrong with that? You see, people should stop being mischievous. Bode George is back. I've rested enough. My systems are working very well.
All the checks I didn't do for many years that nearly resulted to ill-health, I've done them now and I feel well. In fact, I feel like an 18-year-old, ready to launch back on the plough. There is no problem at all. I'm happy to be back and if I'm invited, I'll go. Am I not a Nigerian? What is there to answer in the last six years that they are asking? How can a part-time chairman of the NPA be responsible for anything there? Whoever is making the wuru wuru there, they know."
Expressing displeasure at what he described as damaging rumour, the politician went Biblical: 'God will judge appropriately. If you believe in God, you don't need to fear human beings, especially those who are agents of the demon. Those who jostle for power forget that power and glory come only from God almighty. It is only God who gives and takes away as He pleases. Evil has never overpowered good, and those who fear the Lord will have abundance of peace. Well, I have forgiven all adversaries and self-styled political enemies. I leave them with these quotes of the Bible - 'Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you. Bind them around your neck…'"
On efforts made to create disharmony in his relationship with former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Bode George stated: 'I understood that some undertakers were sent to the Lagos chapter of the PDP to bury it and set Bode George against Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Foul! Foul! Where were these characters when the going was tough? These sudden appearance of these good-doers is strange."
He also spoke on the on-going reconciliation efforts in the PDP and urged defecting aggrieved members of the party to come back to the fold and embrace dialogue.
He stressed that the doors of the party were wide open, adding that the party could only make remarkable progress in unity.