A Chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Olabode George, says that he disagrees with President Bola Tinubu’s method of administration.
Speaking on Arise News programme on Monday, June 5, 2023, George, who is the former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, faulted the way Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy during his inauguration speech without considering the negative effect it would have on the economy and Nigerians in general.
It would be recalled that the announcement of the removal of petrol subsidy triggered a series of unintended consequences like long queues at petrol stations, hike in the price of petrol by the NNPC Ltd and the declaration of a nationwide strike action by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday if the federal government fails to change its stance on the removal of petrol subsidy.
George stated that before such a statement could be made, adequate consultations should have been made and plans articulated on how to cushion the effects of such a decision on the wellbeing of Nigerians.
Reacting to the statement credited to him that he would consider accepting to work with the new administration headed by President Tinubu, Goerge stated that he is a very senior member of the opposition PDP, which is currently contesting the result of the presidential polls and that he has no such plans.
He also said that he retired as a Commodore in the Nigerian Navy and also served as military governor of two states and that he was already too old for any full time job in government.
George, however, said that his services during the administrations of Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan were there for the records as well as his contributions at the Nigerian Ports Authority and other agencies of the federal government.
On scoring the former Minister of works, Babatunde Fashola, SAN five per cent, Goerge said that his score was for the poor performance of the administration headed by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He, however, blamed the former minister for neglecting some of the federal roads in Lagos during his tenure.
On how to restore the lost glory of the country as the giant of Africa, George said that the nation should improve on its electoral process and reminded President Tinubu that the interest and wellbeing of Nigerians should be his priority.
He also emphasized the need for the federal government to explore every means possible to rebuild the nation and ultimately revive the already collapsed economy.