Bode George, Obanikoro in war of words

Lagos Governorship aspirant, Musiliu Obanikoro has engaged Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Bode George in a war of words over the recently conducted primaries in the state.

Obanikoro has accused George and another party chieftain, Adeseye Ogunlewe of manipulating the exercise, which held on Monday, December 8, to ensure that Jimi Agbaje emerged the winner.

Obanikoro said:

“The entire primary was a sham. I still cannot comprehend how accredited delegates of 806 will turn out to be 868. To be honest with you, with the benefit of hindsight, you can tell that the outcome was predetermined.”

“The path of fraudulent electoral success is condemnable and we intend to fight this. There is an opportunity to appeal and I hope the party will do the right thing. Bode George has been the major problem as far as this party is concerned and there is no doubt in my mind that he supervised this electoral malpractice,”he added.

“One of the reasons why this party has failed in Lagos is because it is being led by the likes of Bode George and Ogunlewe. In 2006 during the primary, Bode George manipulated the same way to produce Hilda (widow of the slain governorship aspirant, Funsho Williams) as the winner until common sense prevailed.”

“Bode George brought thugs to come and harass and intimidate delegates at the primary. I was not even at the primary when the violence started but it was Bode George’s people. One of them even stabbed a nephew of mine during the selection of delegates,” Obanikoro stated.

In response to Obanikoro’s statements, George described the former Minister of State for defence as a “rude boy” who lacked respect for elders.

“I don’t want to lose my anger but I hate it when people don’t have respect for elders, no respect for others and think that they alone have the right to be there. The day he lobbied to be minister, he brought Adebayo Alao-Akala to my office to prostrate and beg me because they did election here in my compound and he was not selected. He had just one vote,”George said.

“Humility and civility are the tenets of growth. How can he say the election was a fight between him and myself? This was a boy that was born in 1960. If I did not go to school, I would have had him as my son. He has the nerve to say he is fighting me.

“I brought him (Obanikoro). He joined the party here. If he has many types of apparels, he will never have as many rags as us. That experience is inborn. The Bible and Quran say respect your parents so that your days may be long,” George added.

Obanikoro has earlier stated that he had no business with Agbaje as he knew the fight for the PDP governorship ticket was between him, George and Ogunlewe.