Why PDP members should elect Bode George as National Chairman, by Ebenezer Babatope

In the build-up to the National Chairmanship race of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George has been described as the ‘best man for the job’.
A chieftain of the party and former Transport Minister, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said that no other aspirant can rival the experience of George.
“Although I cannot impose my will on members, I strongly believe that Chief George is the best man for the job based on his fatherly figure.
“We will struggle hard to produce a strong, effective and result-oriented party chairman. During the struggle, he stood solidly behind Senator Ahmed Makarfi and now, the Supreme Court’s verdict has affirmed Markarfi as the real power house of PDP.
“We are now expecting another chairman and we are going to get that. I am giving my full support for the chairmanship position to George because he is the most experienced. As a former Deputy National Chairman of our party, there is no other aspirant who has his experience and loyalty. He is a committed and dedicated party leader and I will mobile others to give him our support.
“George being my choice does not, however, have overriding opinion over other members of the party, everybody is welcome to support candidates of their choice.
“I am picking George because of his experience as a party leader who will ensure reconciliation of all aggrieved members of the party. Experience is the best teacher.
“Whoever emerges as the chairman of PDP must ensure the full reconciliation of all the members. We need a full house now to fulfil the yearnings of the party.
“The chairman should be a rallying point who will be father to all and I know George very well, he is up to the task.
“What is important now is to have full reconciliation in PDP, everybody is welcome to the party and we want to make our party great again.
“Nobody will be left behind in our reconciliation efforts, even Ali Modu Sheriff is also free to contest for the chairmanship.
“As far as we are concerned, the door of the party is open to all members irrespective of their alliances; even Sheriff himself is free to contest.
“There has been reports that Sheriff wants to contest for the chairmanship position, why not? He should feel free to announce himself as others have.
“We need everybody and there is no foe in the party, nobody will be left behind; as I speak, efforts are ongoing to have the mini convention slated for August.
“We are poised to give the ruling party APC a formidable opposition because it has done nothing. We are ready to take over the government again,’’ he said.