Former National Vice President of the People’s Democratic Party Olabode George explained why he congratulated President-elect Bola Tinubu.
A Vanguard report said George, a longtime political rival of Tinubu, spoke at a peace meeting organized by several senior Lagos State officials to peacefully mediate between the two men.
Elders called for his support and collaboration with the former Governor of Lagos when he took office on May 29.
Recall that George worked overtime as a critic of the president-elect and, in fact, threatened exile if Tinubu won the election and was sworn in as president of the country.
Speaking at the meeting, George said,
“They made a request which we are all looking at. They requested that someday we should also congratulate Asiwaju and we said yes, but that I belong to a political party. They are all in the courts now.
“Let us finish the court cases. Whichever way that goes, the issue of congratulating him or not will come to fruition.
“I have nothing personal and nothing happens without the almighty God. As a believer, that is my school of thought.”
He stressed,
“Let me say there are no political differences between Tinubu and I. Justice Olorunnimbe is like a father, we respect our fathers in Lagos.
“When I got an invitation from Papa Olusi that he wanted to come and see me the first time, I told my friend who delivered the message that I should go and visit him and not the other way round. But Papa Olusi said he had to come and see and that it had to do with the situation in Lagos.
“This is the second time Papa Olusi is visiting. We had detailed discussions that bothered the unity of Lagos. I must say we re-established the fact that the culture of Lagos is to accept and accommodate other tribes.”
Reacting to working together with Tinubu, the PDP chieftain said a divided house will be a defeated house, I have explained to Baba Olusi that there is no problem with working together.
“The kind of platform we are trying to have is for a unity of purpose in Lagos State, irrespective of party affiliations.
“On the bottom line, you are a Lagosian though we can have different political affiliations.
He cleared that he had had no battle with Tinubu, adding, “We have no battle, nothing personal between him and I.”
“What had happened has gone, vengeance is not mine but the almighty God. We will have differences, we will disagree but we must not be disagreeable.
“This union and discussion we have had is a positive step towards a new Lagos,” he maintained.
