I Pray Obasanjo Won’t End Like Saul In The Bible- Bode George

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, Chief Bode George has said he prays former president Olusegun
Obasanjo won’t end like Saul in the bible. In an interview published by
Vanguard, George was asked about his opinion on Obasanjo leaving the party and
what he thinks about him tearing his card while he left. George says it’s
unfair because Obasanjo has benefitted a lot from PDP. When his businesses were
down, he was called in and was helped, George explained. I really don’t want to
insult an elderly man, because in Yoruba land it is wrong, George cautioned
himself in the interview as he tries not to insult the elder statesman.
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How do you see the
decision of former President Olusgun Obasanjo to dump the PDP?

It is very sad. After he came out of incarceration, when
most of his businesses were down, the party invited him and put a new beginning
into baba. He has benefitted from the party.

I don’t think that I have heard of this that a man, who has
been to the pinnacle to tear the party’s card publicly. There are things you
should not expect an old man to do. It is unfair. Very unfair. This leaves a
sour taste in the mouth of those who were part of his rebuilding. It is a very
bad decision.

But Obasanjo says
President Goodluck Jonathan plans to perpetuate himself in government like
former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo?

He (Obasanjo) says he is a Christian and as a Christian, it
is emphasised in the New Testament of the Bible where Christ said judge not so
that you will not be judged. But his judgement is no longer about the policies
of Jonathan. He has gone down to the extent of saying Gen. Muhammadu Buhari
will jail you that is why you are afraid.

Talking to elders
with respect

I am holding my breath because in an African setting, you
talk to elders with respect and that is why I am trying to get the right words
to describe my feelings. Baba (Obasanjo) is not a young man.

He was head of state at 39. So averagely, he should be about
84 or 85 and I am requesting that he should graciously fade away into the
midnight.

I want to plead with Baba. God has been kind to him and he
has served his own time. I don’t want to conclude that his life will be like
King Saul in the Bible. I pray it will not be so. Baba has played his role. No
generation can finish any job. Nation building is a continuous exercise.

You come, do your own and go back into history. The young
will read to know about their past so that they will not repeat the same
mistakes. That is why no man can finish the job. It is becoming unnecessarily
contentious and the attack on the President who is much younger calls for
caution and I will plead and beg some of our obas that there is a need to talk
to baba to remain at that pinnacle of respectability. It is becoming too
personal.