Bode George: Because my loyalty has never been in doubt, PDP delegates must elect me as National Chairman Dec 9

Before a mammoth crowd at the Lagos City Hall on Friday, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George, said he would deploy experience and wisdom to rescue and position the party to regain power in 2019, if elected as the National Chairman in the December 9 National Convention of the party in Abuja.
George said this when he formally flagged-off campaign for the Chairmanship position of the opposition party at an impressive gathering of PDP members drawn from across the federation.
At the event were former Minister of Transportation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope; former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele; former Minister of Information, Chief Dapo Sarumi; former Minister of Special Duties, Elder Wole Oyelese; former Works Minister, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe; former PDP Chairman in Ogun State, Chief Joju Fadairo, his Lagos State counterpart, Captain Tunji Shelle; former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Erelu Olusola Obada; National Vice Chairaman, PDP, Dr Eddy Olafeso; former Interim National Chairman, PDP, Chief Ishola Filani, and all Exco members of  PDP in Lagos State.
Others include Hon Tajudeen Obasa, Chief Kehinde Kuku, Chief Tajudeen Oladipo, governorship aspirant, Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde; former Deputy Governor, Oyo State, Chief Azeem Gbolarumi; Aremo Femi Adetola, Chief Remi Akintoye Hon Oladele Bankole Balogun and PDP leaders from South-East, South-South and the North.
He said he would work tirelessly to revive the dream and principles of PDP founding fathers anchored on justice, fairness and equity as enshrined in the constitution of the party.
He said as the PDP National Chairman, he would bring back the dignity of PDP by working diligently to unite members while mending fences and healing old wounds for all to attain the collective aspiration of the once ruling party.
He said PDP under his leadership will strive to revive the economy of Nigeria which had been battered, working with well meaning members of the party to get the presidential power in 2019.
George said his first task, if elected as the next PDP Chairman, would be to reconcile feuding factions while according party officials at all levels the recognition they all deserve while also protecting their interests.
The Atona Oodua said having actively served at the topmost echelon of PDP for 10 years, working with the most experience members, his loyalty to the party has never been in doubt, a reason members should repose confidence in him to serve well as their National Chairman.
He said, “I have learned the ropes and I have been guided by the collective wisdom of our leaders across our great nation. I fully understand the precepts, the mechanisms and the constitution of our party
“I know the tradition, the culture, the guiding ethos and the normative patterns that our leaders have built and nurtured for so many years. If elected, I am willing and ready to work with everyone regardless of personal differences to mend the broken places, to heal the ancient wounds, to reconcile the feuding factions and ultimately ensure that we strengthen our collective brotherhood and speak with one voice to regain victory in 2019.
“I will never compromise our foundational principles of justice, fairness and equity as enshrined in the constitution of our party. We will equally accord all our governors, and legislators at both state and national levels the necessary pride of place and honour in this new dawn. We will protect their interests and help to enhance their effectiveness.
“If I am given the privilege to serve, I will never play the role of an overlord. I will serve with dignity and diligence. I will respect the mighty and the low without discrimination. Together, we will remove impunity. Together, we will restore discipline and fair play. We will always insist on internal democracy.
He, however, thanked the Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, and members of the Caretaker Committee of the PDP on what he described as their commitment, loyalty and their ability to pull the party from the brink of collapse. The Caretaker Committee, he said had done a great work over the past one year.
He also commended stakeholders of PDP on their resolve to zone the Chairmanship position to the south-west zone, describing the zoning arrangement as a veritable tool for stabilizing the PDP.
George had served as Zonal Vice Chairman, South-West, Deputy National Chairman, South and Deputy National Chairman overall, the second highest position in PDP, while he had also helped to resolve crises within the party in all geo-political zones of the federation.