Nigeria in State of Helplessness, Bode George Tells Buhari

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has warned that Nigeria is now in a state of "hopelessness and helplessness" under the President Muhammadu Buhari. He lamented that in the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, the gulf among the ethnic nationalities in the country is widening, warning that this may be a prelude to a greater disaster. George, who was speaking while counselling PDP aspirants in the forthcoming Lagos East senatorial and Kosofe 2 state bye elections, stressed that "no Nigerian today can express happiness with what is going on the country. Are we better off today? I want to see that Nigerian who is better off today than four and a half years ago." The PDP leader insisted that the APC has failed woefully, even as he stressed that contrary to the position held by Mallam Mamman Daura, "zoning is vital for the peace, the growth and the progress of the country. Now, the nature of Nigeria, the size of Nigeria, and the way Nigeria was brought together by the British was not natural. It was a forced union for the benefit of the economic business of the British people. That's all! "Since then, we have been trying to stabilise, and manage ourselves all along. Just take a country like Switzerland with three major tribes-the French, the Italians and the Germans. They rotate the leadership of their country, is that novel to Nigeria? Have you ever heard of any crisis in that country? "So what is so difficult about this issue of zoning? We thank God today there is no part of this country that does not has some academics and brilliant people in in Nigeria. The system we are running today is very defective. I have seen both sides, I have been in the military. Each time I look at it, and I remember it, it's like I see it's a military government. "You know you have one man sitting in Abuja and giving directive to your local government authorities. What is his business in your local government area? The nearest government to you is your local government authorities, next is your state; the power at the centre is humongous, and too strong, so it's not acceptable.” George urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the will of the people is respected in the elections, even as he advised the PDP aspirants to conduct themselves with decorum and respect for one another, saying: "We will not accept any resort to brigandage, thuggery or other forms of violence. "The will of the people must and should be respected at all times. This is what strengthens popular government. This is the life-blood of democracy. Every voice must be heard. Every contribution must be given a fair hearing. But the will of the majority must always prevail in the end.”