Atiku’s Presidency Would have been rejected by Nigerians -Bode George

Chief Olabode George, a former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed worries that instability in Nigeria may have resulted from Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 presidential campaign.

George made the suggestion during an appearance on Arise Television that Atiku’s campaign may have increased ethnic and religious tensions, possibly resulting in Nigeria becoming predominantly Muslim due to Atiku’s religious background.

George warned that such a presidency could have further divided the country, especially following the eight-year tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who also hails from the north.

 He argued that Atiku’s selection as the PDP’s presidential candidate was a deviation from the party’s established norms, which contributed to significant internal strife. He emphasized that most Nigerians were eager for a power shift to the south, reflecting a broader desire for regional balance in the nation’s leadership. 

 According to George, the emergence of Atiku as a northern candidate, coupled with the then-national chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, also from the north, disrupted the party’s unity. 

 “The moment we interfered with it, manipulating the whole process to satisfy Atiku, that’s where the problem started,” George stated. 

 Furthermore, George expressed skepticism about Atiku’s ability to manage Nigeria’s complex issues, implying that his religious and ethnic background could have made it difficult for him to govern a diverse nation like Nigeria effectively. George remarked,

 “If Atiku had won, I would have stayed in my house because I know for real that in the future he would collapse. This country would never accept.” 

 He also criticized the current state of the PDP, highlighting that the party is now divided into three factions with no clear resolution in sight.