Wike’s Aide Attacks Bode George, Urges Him to Stop ‘Embarrassing’ Yoruba Race
Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has criticised former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, urging him to show more maturity and decorum expected of an elder statesman.
Olayinka, in a statement on Thursday, accused George of repeatedly attacking younger politicians through media appearances, describing his actions as embarrassing to the Yoruba people.
He said George, who served as the Military Governor of the old Ondo State in 1988, should draw from the maturity displayed by some of his contemporaries who also held public offices.
“For someone who was Military Governor of the old Ondo State in 1988, some level of decorum and maturity is expected,” Olayinka said.
“But it is becoming an embarrassment the way a man like Chief Bode George, who should be acting like an elder statesman, is jumping from one television station to the other to malign people who are young enough to be his children.”
The FCT minister’s aide also challenged George to explain the achievements of his leadership of the PDP in Lagos State, claiming that the party had remained politically weak in the state since 1999.
“Since 1999, he has not won his polling unit for the PDP,” Olayinka alleged.
He added that while PDP had produced governors in states such as Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo and Osun, the party had struggled to gain political control in Lagos.
“Rather than doing ‘cho cho cho’ all the time, Bode George needs to tell Nigerians why PDP has remained at the sideline in the politics of Lagos State since 1999,” he said.
Olayinka further advised the PDP chieftain, who is 81 years old, to conduct himself in a manner befitting his age and status.
“In Yorubaland, it is a strict cultural and traditional rule to respect elders. However, this respect is not automatic; it is conditional and the major condition is that an elder must avoid disrespecting himself,” he stated.
He maintained that elderly leaders should use their experience to promote unity rather than engage in public confrontations.
Samuel Agada is a writer and media contributor from Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. He is a graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Jos and a former banker with GTBank and FCMB. A prolific writer, songwriter, educator, and Gospel preacher, he is passionate about informing, inspiring, and impacting society through his work.