We Are Not Trying To Force Ayu Out, We Are Simply Begging Him To Throw In The Towel – Bode George

A former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George has disclosed the reason he is insisting on the resignation of the party’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.

Naija News earlier reported that the PDP chieftain in a statement on Thursday demanded that Ayu resign from his position to help the party focus on securing the 2023 presidential seat.

Shedding more light on his take on Friday during an interview with Arise TV, the elder statesman said that he was calling for Ayu’s resignation in line with the party’s constitution, adding that the national chairman had also agreed to resign if the presidential candidate emerges from the north.

He said ”Of course, we will have one or two dissenting voices but facts are facts and fiction is fiction. The founding fathers of our party gathered together in 1998 and intentionally look at the problems that have beset Nigeria and came out with a suggested solution that we should divide Nigeria into six geopolitical zones because, in the First Republic, the majority tribe have their way and say. The minority tribes were just onlookers; same in the north and same in the south.”

Speaking further, he explained that there was an agreement within the party that after every eight years all the three top positions in the north will come down to the south and vice versa.

He expressed his shock over those who came to the party and insisted that it was not necessary for the party to undergo any form of zoning.

The PDP stalwart said that it is now important more than ever for the party to practice zoning and hoped that in the future they could put it into writing and make it a law.

“Those saying they don’t believe in it (zoning) and don’t want it are saying that because they don’t understand what brought about it but I am talking because I was part of the system from the very beginning and we have a saying from my part of the world that when you have old people in any association, they (old people) always make sure they correct the mistakes of the young ones and I am trying to refer us to that concept (zoning) that was established and brought about sanity to the nation.

“Now that we are trying to manoeuvre the concept that came from us to suit certain purposes and personal ambitions, it is going to drive us to the canvass and that is what I am saying,” he added.

George explained that they were not demanding for Ayu’s forceful resignation but were simply asking him to put the needs of the party first and throw in the towel so they could balance the two top positions.

He explained that it would be impossible to successfully campaign to people in the south while two northerners were in charge of the party.

He said, “But how do I go on the campaign trip in the South-West and tell the people that look, we are ready and you must vote for our candidate? We must realise that the opposition party has its own presidential candidate from the South-West and he (Tinubu) will tell them (voters) I have the presidential ticket, what does the PDP has on its ticket for South-West?.”