A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Bode George, has said Nigerians fared better during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration than during the administrations of the late President Muhammadu Buhari and the incumbent, Bola Tinubu.
George, a former deputy national chairman of PDP, said the economic indices, including interest rate inflation and the value of the Naira compared to the dollar, all show that the Jonathan era was better.
He also warned the incoming chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow Nigerians to choose their leaders, adding that anything to the contrary will result in chaos.
Recall that the Tinubu presidency had said Nigerians would forget Jonathan’s abysmal performance as president between 2011 and 2015 while reacting to a claim by former minister of information Prof Jerry Gana that the former president would contest the 2027 election on the PDP’s platform.
But, George, in an interview with ARISE News on Tuesday, said, “If you look at Jonathan’s period, ask any Nigerian and ask them, what have you been feeling since, from Buhari’s period to Bola Tinubu’s period? Check out the economic indices. Is it the interest rate? The inflation rate? What is the value of the Naira compared to the dollar? Who is happy now, whether you are a rich man or a poor man? You go to the market, things that they used to buy for maybe about 5,000 naira are now about 25,000 naira.”
“And they are claiming that, oh, their economic indices. Anybody who comes out will show their documents, whatever Nigerians felt during Jonathan’s period, and what they are feeling now with the APC in government. Is it an issue in the oil sector? No.
“How much was the fuel pump cost during his period, and what is it now? Are you putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians? It’s not a matter of just howling out from the villa and saying, Oh, you should not come. You should not. You don’t have the right to say that. Anybody bearing our people’s flag is not ‘emi lokan’. No. There will be competition at the convention. People will decide who is going to be our flag bearer.”
He stressed that Jonathan’s record remained more favourable than the current government’s. “But let’s say that they choose Jonathan. What are the records? Very pleasant. Nigerians were not as angry as they were at that time,” George said.
In a caution to the next INEC chairman, the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) member said, “Firstly, I want to plead that the new chairman of INEC must come with a conscience. Because if you don’t allow Nigerians to decide and you impose, we are heading to hell. Let the will be decided by the people, who they want.”
He, however, expressed satisfaction that the opposition party was stabilising ahead of the next presidential contest.
“I am happy that the PDP is settling down. The party has decided that for the next four years, the presidential candidate of the PDP will come from the South. The court has cleared former President Jonathan, and he can contest. And others will also contest. There will be competition at the presidential convention, which will come sometime next year,” he stated.
The PDP stalwart also criticised First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu over her recent call for donations to build a national library.
“Now, something happened recently where the First Lady, Remi, decided that she wanted to build a national library. She also said that people should donate so much directly to her account. I beg you, Remi, our First Lady, ‘wadi aburo’, It is not on,” he said.
He said, “As a First Lady, yes, but to build a national library in two days. Those people that I keep complaining about, these bankers, have donated 20.7 billion naira. And they mentioned their names.
“That money would have gone into a special fund, which I have been campaigning to meet the needs of skill acquisition programmes for millions of this young generation.
“In fact, many graduates who graduated from universities now have no hope. There’s no job. Establish microcredits through this special fund. Instead of saying you want to build a national library, tell your husband, let them set up this special fund,” he said.
