Bode George has no moral standing to preach on corruption — Wike’s Aide

Lere Olayinka

Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lere Olayinka, has launched a fresh attack on former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, urging him to retire from active politics and stop what he described as repeated public attacks on political opponents.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Olayinka said George, a former military governor of the old Ondo State, should demonstrate the maturity expected of an elder statesman instead of making frequent media appearances to criticise younger politicians.

He argued that the PDP chieftain had little to show for his political leadership in Lagos State, claiming the party had failed to make electoral gains under his influence since 1999.

According to Olayinka, George should explain why the PDP has remained politically weak in Lagos despite recording electoral successes in other South-West states, including Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun and Ekiti.

The FCT minister’s aide also revisited George’s past statements in which he vowed to leave Nigeria if President Bola Tinubu emerged victorious in the presidential election.

He alleged that George made similar declarations on several occasions between 2015 and 2022 but had failed to fulfil them despite Tinubu assuming office more than three years ago.

Olayinka further maintained that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike stood by his earlier allegation that George acquired a property in Abuja with funds from Rivers State.

He said George’s explanation that the property was purchased from a private owner through an agent did not address the substance of the allegation.

“The issue is not who sold the property or who acted as agent. The question is whether the money used to acquire the property came from Rivers State, and that is what Chief Bode George should respond to,” Olayinka said.

The latest exchange adds to the growing war of words between Wike’s camp and the PDP elder over recent political disagreements within the opposition party.