Tinubu Is Just A “Local Champion”—Bode George

Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bode George, has said National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, is losing his relevance in the Nigerian politics.

George made this comment and others while reacting to the emergence of Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Yakubu Dogara as Speaker of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, against their party’s wish.

The former National Deputy Chairman of the PDP in the South West further said the events of Tuesday at the National Assembly has showed that Tinubu, his perceived political arch rival, is losing his grip and described him as a “local champion.”

Speaking with SaharaReporters in a telephone interview, George was quoted to have said, “You know I predicted weeks ago that the APC is just a congregation of strange bedfellows. The most beautiful thing about what has happened is that Bola Tinubu’s political influence in Nigeria is coming to a sunset and it is about five minutes to midnight for him.

Furthermore, he said, “If he cannot see this now, then it will be foolish of him. He brought in the APC national chairman and the vice-president and he thinks Nigeria belongs to him. So, he thought what he did in Lagos was what he could replicate at the national level and they have shown him that he cannot continue to be the lord of the manor.

“So, if he is wise, he will slow down. President Muhammadu Buhari, as an army general, has fought more battles than him and has an understanding of things.”

He added that, “The PDP was never dead. We were only given a bloodied nose, not a technical knockout. So, this is an opportunity to start regrouping and getting ready for 2019. I want to salute the dexterity and perfect political manoeuvres for which the PDP is well known.

“People like Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande in Osun have always been local champions. Now, they have come to the national level of politics and they are now learning the tricks that all that glitters is not gold.

On the decision of the APC to discipline Saraki, George asked, “Is Saraki a child?” “They probably think they are playing local politics like the one they play in Lagos State. I welcome them to the real world,” he said.