I Rejected Request To Visit Tinubu – Bode George

Olabode George, a former deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, has acknowledged the occurrence of a meeting between him and certain members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The APC group was led by Retired Justice Isola Olorunmibe and comprised individuals such as Tajudeen Olusi, the leader of the Governance Advisory Council in Lagos State, and others.

George, known for his critical stance towards President-elect Bola Tinubu, explained that he accepted their invitation for a meeting due to his admiration and respect for Olorunmibe.

He told Punch, “They were led by Papa Olorunmibe, a 94-year-old man. In Yoruba land, such a man cannot say he wants to come to my house and I will say no. It’s not done in my culture. There were other elders from the PDP.”

The purpose of the delegation’s visit was to extend an apology to George regarding previous disagreements and to request his support for the President-elect.

George, however, declined the request to visit Tinubu, citing his party’s ongoing legal challenge against the President-elect’s victory in the presidential election held on February 18.

He said, “First of all, they came to apologise for whatever they had done in the past, and I said I have moved on and have nothing against his person. We may disagree on policies but we must not be disagreeable. Secondly, they wanted me to pay him a courtesy call. I was like, what are you talking about? I am the man representing South-West in the national confines of our party and I’m a life BoT member. So, how do I add that together? We are still in court, how do I now say I want to go and greet him? Greet him for what? What will my party and my people think about me? Once we finish at the court, then we’ll know what to do. The PDP members and I present were very clear in our mind that going to him now will be a bit suicidal. I’m still an irridentist PDP man.”