BY TUNDE THOMAS
Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope has appealed to members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the South-West geo-political zone to support efforts being made by some notable leaders of the party to ensure that a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George emerges as the next national Chairman of the party.
Making the appeal in Lagos, Babatope who currently is a member PDP’s Board of Trustees declared that he and some other leaders within the party were the ones drafting George to put his hat in the ring because they believe in his competence and capability to do the job.
While insisting that PDP at this point in its history needs a rational and courageous individual as its national Chairman, Babatope said George possesses attributes required to provide dynamic leadership for PDP.
According to him;’’ Without mincing words, Bode George remains the best candidate for the position of PDP national Chairman. He has paid his dues in the party. Chief Olabode George had served with meritorious distinction for 10years in our national secretariat, rising to the position of the Deputy national Chairman.
In 2003, he also coordinated the PDP’s victory in the South West where the party won five out of the six states. George is also a bridge builder. He has a fantastic network that is hardly rivaled in this nation. He is never detained by tribalistic urges
Bode George is the man who can now help our great party, PDP to resuscitate and renew itself along the line of a triumphant new beginning. Our challenges are many. The road ahead is still very rough and unclear. Nothing yet is certain. This is the more reason our party needs a strong, firm and steady captain like Bode George who knows the political terrain very well’’, he declared.
Babatope who noted that it is only the South-West geo-political zone that PDP has not zoned the position of the party’s national chairmanship position to, urged the party to ensure that the South-West zone produce the next Chairman of the party.
Warning detractors who still or want to refer to George as an ex-convict, Babatope said George can ‘t and must never be referred to again as an ex-convict since the Supreme Court has discharged and acquitted him from the case for which he was charged to court.
“Bode George is now clean as a whistle. Any attempt to refer to him as an ex-convict is defamatory and libelous. The Supreme Court has discharged and acquitted him. The coast is clear, and he is now ready to serve. He is prepared to lead PDP’’, he declared.