Saraki: Bode George wants Oshiomhole called to order

Elder statesman and National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party, Chief Olabode George, on Wednesday slammed Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress
(APC), over his persistent threat that Senate President Bukola Saraki
will be removed from office at all cost.

George, while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday, asked to President
Muhammadu Buhari to call Oshiomhole to order as his utterances and
threats on the issue of Saraki's position was capable of setting the
country on fire.

He said, "Why should he resign? I don't think he should resign. When
Aminu Tambuwal left our party for APC in 2014, did he resign as the
speaker of the House of Representatives? He did not. So, what is sauce
for the goose is sauce for the gander. How are we even sure who is the
majority in the House?

"My advice is we should take things calmly. Like our brothers in the
North will say 'kadan kada', Igbos will say nwayo, nwayo; and Yoruba
will say 'E fara bale oo'. That is what the situation in Nigeria today
calls for. If we rush into this storm, we may not survive it.

"All these neophytes who are making noise here and there seem to have
been too young to learn from history of this country. That was how the
crisis in the Western region started. Like child's play, that crisis
led to the civil war. No nation goes through civil war twice and
survive.

"Let the will of the people be respected. That is why those who
founded democracy stated unequivocally that in every four years, you
go and renew your mandate. If they are satisfied with you, they will
vote for you. If they are not satisfied with your performance, they
dump you".

Speaking further, George said Oshiomhole as national chairman of the
ruling party should direct his energy on assisting the government to
alleviate the suffering of Nigerians rather than engaging in flippant
issues such as Saraki's removal.

While calling on the APC helmsman to respect the wishes of the
senators who elected Saraki, he said Oshiomhole must have been too
young to learn from the Western region crisis of 1965 which later
snowballed into the Nigerian civil war.

He said if war erupts in Nigeria today, the likes of Oshiomhole will
be the first to flee while the masses in the country will be left to
bear the brunt of the war.

"Let us be very careful. All these threats and talks are things that
can conflagrate the country especially from the chairman of the APC.
He must have been too young to learn what happened in the Western
House. He should learn to respect the wishes of the senators who
elected Saraki.

"When Saraki and others move from our party to their party, was there
any crisis? He has a right to do what he wants to do. There is nothing
tying him down. Why should he resign?

"Is Saraki's resignation the major challenge confronting our nation
today? We are talking about basic standards of living of Nigerians
such as schools, good housing, infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare
and good economic indices to attract investors. These are basic issues
we should discuss not trying to be in power by force. It doesn't make
sense.

"Like the Yoruba will say 'he abandoned leprosy and he is busy looking
for cure for eczema'. People are hungry in the country. This is
Sallah. How many people are able to buy ram?

"These are ideological issues he should address as chairman of the
ruling party but he keeps shouting Saraki must resign. Is that an
issue? Is that what will bring food to the table of Nigerians? What is
wrong with this boy? He is behaving as if he is a dictator.

"Even those of us who went to the military have learnt the rudimentary
things of what is called democracy and I want the president to take a
cursory look at all these people and call them to order because they
won't be there if they create crisis. They will be the first to run
away.

"They should tell him in clear terms that this is not a labour union.
He is not in Edo State. What is the total number of registered voters
in Edo State? Let him come to Lagos where we have 10 million
registered voters only in Lagos State. He is trivialising issues as if
he is a king in one local village. This is Nigeria."