A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) revealed that he turned down an offer to be a member of the party’s Disciplinary Committee because the party failed to ensure fairness.
Bode George said he was invited by the chairman of the committee, Tom Ikimi, but because he joined the main opposition party before Ikimi he could not be under him.
The PDP chieftain stated this in an interview with newsmen on Friday.
He, however, noted that what was paramount was for the party to unite before the next general election.
He also alleged that the committee’s composition was not done in fairness. He explained that both the chairman of the committee and its secretary belong to one divide in the Rivers State political crisis.
He advised that the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, should be given the opportunity to speak his anger against the party like the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalaya Fubara, was given.
He said, “There are two major groups in rivers. The Fubara group who is the incumbent, he had his own grouse.
“And of course, we have just met with him. Definitely, the BOT would meet Wike. We told them that once they got back to Abuja, they had to go and seek an appointment with Wike. So that you listen to the two sides and then we resolve the issue.
“This is what you call experience and the culture of the party. Suddenly, I saw the list of members for the disciplinary committee and then the reconciliation committee. Most states too, like we have in Lagos state, there is also a reconciliation committee that has been settled.
“We are getting closer now to another national election very soon. But the party must sit properly. I know Tom very well, Tom Ikimi. He met me in this party. We were the one that the founding fathers handed over to.
“So the culture of the party, the dos and don’ts, had been with us. So you don’t make me to be a member under somebody that I know, in terms of hierarchy of the party. You see, I should go and serve under him.
“I made that observation to them. They said, are you going to come? I said, no, I’m not. You can go ahead. Then, like I said, the chairman and the secretary, are from one side of the divided group in the party.”
