Time was when former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olabode George was a staunch enemy of President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He never saw anything good in what Tinubu did to change the fortunes of Lagos State when he was in the saddle as Governor for eight years.
Even when he left the saddle as Governor, the former Chairman of the Nigeria Port Authority, NPA, never changed his colour like the proverbial Chameleon, rather, his hatred for Tinubu escalated.
During the electioneering campaign for the Presidency, Bode George mocked, ridiculed the personality and potential of Tinubu, fanning the ember of hatred against him and even swore to leave the shore of Nigeria and relocate to another country if he wins.
Weeks after the emergence of Tinubu as the President Elect, Bode George has however embraced the olive branch of Tinubu, which he had initiated on his Pronouncement by electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as the winner of the February 25th, 2023, Presidential Election, that every of his opponents and enemies should bury their hatchets and join forces with his administration to move the nation forward.
Sensing Tinubu’s growing national acceptance, and friendliness, maturity and prioritizing the growth and development of the nation, Bode George however changed his genre of music from hate speech to reconciliation and forging ahead.
Following the prolonged frosty relationship between Tinubu and Bode George, some elders in Lagos State last weekend met with the PDP leader and urged him to support and collaborate with Tinubu as he assumes office on May 29th.
The meeting was brokered by a former judge of the Lagos State High Court, Justice Ishola Olorunnimbe (retd), and had in attendance, leader of the Governance Advisory Council, GAC, the apex leadership of the party in Lagos State, Prince Tajudeen Olusi; the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; former Deputy Governors of Lagos State, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele and Prince Abiodun Ogunleye.
Others present are former acting Secretary of the PDP, Chief Remi Akitoye; former Minister of Communications, Major General Tajudeen Olarenwaju (retd); Chief Gbadebo Dallas and Mrs Onikepo Oshodi.
Bode George openly said he bears no grudge against the former Lagos State governor.
He said, “I have no running battle with Tinubu and I have said I absolutely have no battle, nothing personal between him and I.
“What had happened has gone, vengeance is not mine but the almighty God. We will have differences, we will disagree but we must not be disagreeable.
“They made a request which we are all looking at. They requested that someday we should also congratulate Asiwaju and we said yes, but that I belong to a political party. They are all in the courts now. Let us finish the court cases. Whichever way that goes, the issue of congratulating him or not will come to fruition. I have nothing personal and nothing happens without the almighty God. As a believer, that is my school of thought.
“This union and discussion we have had is a positive step towards a new Lagos.”
