Olabode George, the former deputy national chairman of the People Democratic Party, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for visiting France at a time when Nigeria is dealing with a number of security crisis.
It was reported that Tinubu, on Wednesday, jetted out of Nigeria to France, and he is expected to “return to Nigeria in about a fortnight”.
In a statement he signed on Wednesday titled “Whither Nigeria, my beloved country”, George said the reason for such trip was best known to the President and his handlers.
He voiced his displeasure with the current situation in the nation, claiming that people in power had ignored logic and purposefully introduced policies capable of causing the nation to fall apart.
Nigeria’s perilous and dangerous stumble towards self-destruction, according to the PDP chieftain, is discouraging.
George stated that he saw what led to the collapse of the First and Second republics being repeated by the current government, adding that those in charge seemed to have refused to learn lessons from events of the past.
He said, “This was exactly what happened from mid-30s to early 40s when Adolf Hitler of Germany, Benito Mussolini of Italy and the military apologists in Japan held the world by the jugular. It was almost too late before Americans, Britons and others rose to the occasion to save the world.
“Today, and with the series of crises, insecurity, hunger, joblessness and other vices in the country, President Bola Tinubu has taken off to Paris, France, for reasons best known to him and his handlers.
“Aside from the fact that history is a faithful record of the past, it is also a prophecy of what is coming. That is why Fela’s song is still apt, decades after. Today, I see what led to the collapse of the First and Second republics being repeated by the APC-led Federal Government.”
George said it was shameful that while Nigerians don’t feel safe anymore, the Tinubu administration was focused on trivial matters like recalling suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
He said, “Nigerians don’t feel safe anymore in their fatherland, but the Federal Government, All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Senate are only interested in recalling Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. What a shame!
“The partisan handling of the allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, by the Senate and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is an embarrassment to the country.
“It is disheartening that Nigeria is on the spot globally for the wrong reasons. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo said recently that democracy is dying. I disagree. Democracy is not dying. Rather, the operators, especially the executive and legislature, are losing their sense of responsibility. It is a big shame.
“Look at the way Nigeria is being embarrassed globally with the way Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is being persecuted, victimised and hounded. Why? She made an allegation, and instead of setting up an independent body to check the claims, she was suspended.
“Now, they are trying to recall her, using the machinery of state. What is the meaning of this nonsense? Are we this cheap as a country? What type of democracy is this?
“Initially, INEC said the process did not follow laid-down regulations and procedures. In less than 24 hours, the story changed. Now, INEC wants to scrutinise the list of signatories submitted. Seriously? Does what is going on, with many loopholes, make sense to anybody? Why the inconsistency?
“Look at the gang up against Natasha in the Senate. Don’t these Senators have daughters?
“With insecurity, corruption and poverty all over the place, is the Natasha issue the most topical now? She is a very strong member of our party, and we will not allow this humiliation at all.
“The law says two-thirds of members of the National Assembly must approve a declaration of a state of emergency. That is, 74 Senators and 240 Representatives. So, what is the meaning of voice vote? Did they get these numbers before the emergency rule was okayed? That’s why I commend Senators Tambuwal, Dickson, Abaribe and others who kicked against the illegality and injustice in the Senate,” George said.
George insisted that the Senate and the APC were staging this move to recall Natasha, calling the way her case was handled dishonourable.
He reported that some characters just went to the INEC office with bags of papers, saying that it amounted to arrant nonsense that such had become official documents.
“I also insist that this attempt to recall Natasha is being stage-managed by the APC and Senate, and it is shameful. How will INEC identify all the signatories and their details? Some characters just went to the INEC office with bags of papers and, boom! It has become an official document. What arrant nonsense? This is clear manipulation, and it will not stand.
“How would the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) identify all the signatories and their details?
“The government also tried to stop her from going to Kogi State but look at the way she went there in a chopper. Look at the mammoth crowd that received her. Now, the government is embarrassed.”
George, however, cautioned Tinubu and other leaders to be aware that power is transient and not absolute.
He said, “The power you wield today is not permanent, you only know the beginning of a crisis, you don’t where and when it will end.
“Nigerians are suffering, but these operators don’t care about the people. They want to get Natasha out of the system and get Rivers through the back door.
“Mr. President kadankada, nwayo nwayo, te jeje o.”
