Some PDP members see party as personal empire – Bode George

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has stated that some PDP members view the party as their personal empire due to selfish reasons. George explained that a significant number of these chieftains no longer respect the PDP’s leadership hierarchy as established by the party’s founding fathers. The former Deputy National Chairman said this during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, discussing the PDP and the role of a viable opposition.

George emphasized that the PDP members should respect the party’s hierarchy, even if they were the most significant contributors. The original structure of the PDP was well-defined, with clear roles and responsibilities for each member, according to the party’s founding fathers. He explained that this structure included the National Working Committee, the National Executive Committee (NEC), the Legislative arm, and the Board of Trustees, all of which played crucial roles in managing the party on a daily basis.

George pointed out that unity and oneness were deeply ingrained in the PDP, particularly when the party was in government. However, he noted that the manner in which the PDP left government had a detrimental impact on the functioning of the party. He explained that when the PDP was in power, everybody belonged to the party, fostering a strong sense of commitment, unity, and oneness.

However, after leaving government, some individuals, driven by personal ambition, refused to take orders from the National Chairman or the National Working Committee. These individuals began to see the party as a personal empire, working out of meetings, even when they were substantial contributors to the party.

The former Deputy National Chairman concluded that this shift in mindset from respecting the party’s hierarchy to viewing it as a personal domain was a significant setback for the PDP. George highlighted the importance of adhering to the established structure and the need for members to respect the party’s leadership, regardless of their individual contributions.