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Tinubu Is A ‘Local Champion’, Saraki, Dogara Have Ended His Political Career – Bode George

Published

10 years ago

June 11, 2015

A former Deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Bode George, has reacted to the outcome of the National Assembly elections conduction on Tuesday.
According to him, what transpired was a sign that the political career of the National Leader, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was over.
Senator Bukola Saraki yesterday emerged the Senate Presiden, defeating Senator Ahmed Lawan, Tinubu’s choice.
In the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara defeated Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to claim the seat of the House Speaker.
Reacting, George in an interview with Punch advised Tinubu to quit the political stage.
The PDP chieftain said having nominated the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; and the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Tinubu should have “taken things easy” but “Tinubu continued to push his luck too far.”
He said, “You know I predicted weeks ago that the APC is just a congregation of strange bedfellows. The most beautiful thing about what has happened is that Bola Tinubu’s political influence in Nigeria is coming to a sunset and it is about five minutes to midnight for him.
“If he cannot see this now, then it will be foolish of him. He brought in the APC national chairman and the vice-president and he thinks Nigeria belongs to him. So, he thought what he did in Lagos was what he could replicate at the national level and they have shown him that he cannot continue to be the lord of the manor.
“So, if he is wise, he will slow down. President Muhammadu Buhari, as an army general, has fought more battles than him and has an understanding of things.”
George also described the re-election of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President as a victory for the PDP.
He also praised the Senators on its platform for carrying out a successful ‘political manoeuvre’.
George added, “The PDP was never dead. We were only given a bloodied nose, not a technical knockout. So, this is an opportunity to start regrouping and getting ready for 2019. I want to salute the dexterity and perfect political manoeuvres for which the PDP is well known.
“People like Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande in Osun have always been local champions. Now, they have come to the national level of politics and they are now learning the tricks that all that glitters is not gold.
“I congratulate Saraki and Ekweremadu. They understand what Nigeria is all about.”