‘PDP Is An Iroko Tree, There Is Hardly Any Village Where You Will Not Hear Of The Party’ – Bode George

A member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has described the opposition party as an ‘iroko tree’ that will weather the storm.

Naijaonpoint recalls that the presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, announced his resignation from the party on Wednesday, July 16.

Following Atiku’s defection, many leaders of the party, including Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, said it would have no effect on the party.

Similarly, Bode George, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, said despite the exit of the stalwarts, the party remained an iroko tree and would outlast all defectors.

According to the PDP chieftain, although an Iroko tree could lose branches, it remained solid after a storm, adding that an individual did not make a party.

He said, “This party is an Iroko tree. When you get into the forest, when an Iroko tree stands in the middle of that forest, no matter the storm that goes, it stands.

“Some of the lighter trees would have been uprooted and gone.

“The Iroko tree can lose one or two branches, but at the end of the storm, it remains solid and sturdy.

“I have been at this party right from the beginning. I have been chairman of the national convention and Director General of the presidential campaign.

“I have traversed the length and breadth of this country. I have snaked around this country campaigning. I know there is hardly any village where you will not hear PDP.

“So if you’re talking about an individual, an individual does not make a party.” 

Speaking further, the former National Deputy Chairman of the PDP also stated that the party was not a private fiefdom of any individual.

He added, “Our party is not the private fiefdom of anybody. You just told the public, the listening public, now that he’s been in and out of that party about three or four times. So what?

“He should remain as one of the founding fathers. If your house is leaking or you need to repair it, you stick in there, make sure that it is well-repaired and solid.

“Public perception of the party is more important than your private enterprise or your private interest. I have spoken to him and I’m still advising him. What are you running after to do?

“Because of the rules in our party? It means all you are interested in is that you want to contest as a presidential candidate.”