Sophia Michaels
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has said that he is willing to give President Bola Tinubu time to tackle the economic challenges in the country.
He also stated that there is nothing personal between him and the President.
The former Military Administrator of old Ondo State said he means well for President Tinubu despite his constant criticisms of his government.
In an interview with Vanguard, George advised President Tinubu to be very careful of those working in the Presidential Villa.
He said: “There is nothing personal between me and him. In that office, I have worked with five presidents in this country. I worked with General Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, Olusegun Obasanjo, Umar Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan. Is there anybody else missing that I worked with? I am here now.
“The pages of history will tell us. I want to give him a little bit of time because here he is. I want to advise that he has to be very careful. Abuja isn’t Lagos. You have the whole tribe working in that Villa. I will want to remind him that the journey of life is never trouble-free.
“The ups and downs of life! The maximum time you will spend there is eight years and you will leave. Look at General Muhammadu Buhari, how will the analysis of his period in governance sound like? The insurgency is rising by the hour, the people are hungry.
“If they are not telling the president the truth, there is hunger in the land which means there is anger in the land. What about businesses? The cost of diesel and the cost of transportation? If you want to set up a palliative for the people, you can take a cue from the British government.
“You know what they did? They told the energy supplier to cut down every household, and then we will pay. That is palliative, not small cups of rice. Teach them how to fish so they can feed themselves forever.”
The PDP chieftain also berated the Tinubu administration for planning to repair the State House with N4 billion and pay for the presidential yacht at a cost of N5 billion.
He added: “Let them moderate. They want to repair a government house for N4 billion, they want to buy a yacht, for what? He said they will give student loans, what is delaying it? Is the N5 billion given to governors money? Right now, the value of our money is rubbish.
“My advice is that it is now time for governance. It is time to know the needs of the people and adequately provide them. I must say it too that this constitution we are running is like a military organisation. You know in the military, it is hierarchical: there is a boss at the top. Once he gives orders, it circulates to the bottom.”
