Nigerians have been enjoined to work towards making the country a great nation as envisioned by the country’s founding fathers. Making the appeal in this interview with TUNDE THOMAS in Lagos, former Deputy National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George stressed the need for Nigerians to jettison all forms of divisive tendencies capable of polarizing the nation along ethnic lines.

He also spoke on other national issues including his reported planned defection to APC, clamour for restructuring, President Muhammadu Buhari’s health, assessment of Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s administration in Lagos State among a host of others.

What is your reaction to the recent reports that you are set to drop PDP for APC just like some others in the opposition party?

Never. I say never. It will never happen. What would I be looking for in APC? I remain a PDP member and not just a member but also a very committed one.

This report of my planned defection from PDP to APC credited to Lagos State Chairman of APC, Chief Henry Ajomale is not true. I have not met Ajomale and I’ve not had any discussion with him.

It is a mere wishful thinking, it is a pipe dream by Ajomale and those in his group if they think that I will for even a moment think of joining APC. I will never leave PDP, I don’t believe in jumping from one political party to another. I’m a principled politician – what does Obanikoro’s defection to APC have to do with me? Obanikoro is an adult who is capable of taking his own independent decisions, and by leaving PDP for APC, we in PDP are not missing Obanikoro. His leaving PDP for APC to us is even a good riddance to bad rubbish. Anybody including Ajomale who believes or thinks that I will leave PDP for APC is living in a dreamland. What will I be looking for in APC?

But one of the reasons given by Chief Ajomale for your decision to join APC was your recent public commendation of the Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s administration, with Ajomale saying that since 1999 up till date you have never for one day showered encomium on any of the former governors of Lagos State, and APC administration?

Is it a crime to commend when you see something good that is being done? That’s the mistake politicians in this clime often make, they believe that when you are in opposition you must not  see anything good in what your political opponent is doing.

But for me, I believe in constructive politics and that was why I openly praised Gov. Akinwumi Ambode. Until the recent celebrations of Lagos at 50, I have not met Governor Akinwumi Ambode in person, but only came into contact with good work his administration is doing especially in the area of infrastructural development, and when you see something progressive-minded, you have no choice but to commend.

How did I come about commending Ambode? There was a time I was on my way to Ondo State and I passed through Epe but what I saw amazed me, a good road network has been put in place. The infrastructural development in Lagos State since Ambode took over has been very impressive. I believe in constructive politics, and this is why I openly praised Ambode that so far he has done well more than his two predecessors, Bola Tinubu and Raji Fashola.

But it would be very funny if my open commendation of Ambode is now being mistaken for my love for APC, or that it is a signal that I’m on my way to APC. Never. I will never join APC. However, I have no regret or apology for admiring Ambode and his good work.

Why does it seem difficult for you to join APC or work with APC leaders like Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Ajomale and others because what they are saying is that being an eminent Lagosian, you should join hands with them to transform Lagos State into the Dubai of Africa?

Work with APC leaders? Work with Tinubu? This is not possible. You only work with people who share the same ideas with you. You work with people of like- mind. Tinubu’s concept of politics is different from my own. I don’t believe in godfatherism or godfather kind of politics which Tinubu epitomize. I believe in collective and inclusive politics and not a one-man show kind of politics. Why should I join APC? I can never have anything to do with a party that has put Lagos State in a bondage since 1999. Lagos State has been under APC bondage, but the party has remained that long in power in Lagos State through electoral manipulations. But as the saying goes, everyday is for the thief, and one day is for the owner, I strongly believe that APC days in control of power in Lagos State are numbered. It is not that Lagosians love APC as they would like us to believe, but APC has remained in power in Lagos State through manipulations and electoral shenanigans.

How well prepared is PDP for the forthcoming local government election scheduled for July 22nd  in the state?

PDP is well prepared, and just like the party shocked APC during the 2015 general elections when PDP won several seats into the House of Representatives and Lagos State House of Assembly, APC should prepare for another shocker. If the elections are free and fair, devoid of electoral malpractices, PDP will certainly prove its mettle.

You recently expressed concerns about the state of the nation especially on the quit notice given to the Igbo living in the North by a coalition of Arewa youths, and also on the agitations for a separate state of Biafra by IPOB led by Nnamdi Kanu …

Cuts in … Yes I have to speak out because I’m a patriot who loves this nation. What good will those things being canvassed by Arewa youths and IPOB serve Nigeria? Nothing but chaos, anarchy and disunity, and this should not be so.

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We have come a long way in Nigeria. We are marking 103 years of existence as a nation that’s since the amalgamation took place in 1914. If we are not careful and immediate steps are not taken to douse tension, nobody can predict the outcome or what all these will result into. But we need to learn from history. There is no single nation in the history of the world that survived two civil wars. This is why we must be sober and reflect.

The clamour for secession or creation of a separate or independent state of Biafra will not do the nation any good. Staying together as one nation will do us more good. Division or separation will make Nigeria weak. We should learn like the United States of America to turn our ethnic diversity and population to our own advantage. America is using its huge population to make progress and development, and that’s the way it should be with Nigeria.

I’m not saying that the present federalism we are practicing is not flawed, but I also believe that there is no problem or challenge facing us that is not unresolvable. We must however embrace dialogue in resolving our differences. We must not resort to war or violence. We must learn to accommodate one another. We are all Nigerians, why then must we give or issue quit notice to each other? This is wrong.

The reality we must all be ready to accept is that there is no perfect union in the world. A nation is always a work in perpetual rebuilding and reformation. A nation is never a finished product.

As a union, we comprise diverse ethnic nationalities, people with unique culture, languages, values and varied historical beginnings. But we can’t campaign for the dismantlement of our nation or its dismemberment because we are not happy with certain aspects of our national union.

It’s about time we shed and remove the tendency to always put on our ethnic toga. Our primary loyalty should first be to Nigeria. We should strive to promote the Nigerian in us instead of our inclination to recourse to provincial tribalism. I enjoin other ethnic groups to emulate us in Lagos State.

To emulate Lagos State in what way?

In Lagos State, we don’t discriminate. Lagos State is home to all Nigerians. There is no ethnic group or nationality that is not represented in Lagos, and yet we won’t discriminate against anybody. Lagos State provides opportunities for everybody to excel. In Lagos State House of Assembly, you have people from other ethnic nationalities as members, so also you have people from other ethnic nationalities representing Lagos State in the House of Representatives. We don’t discriminate, this is the kind of spirit to be displayed by everybody. We should also see ourselves as one, as Nigerians who can reside in any part of the country without humiliation and harassment, and this is why Lagos State is making progress, this is why Lagos State has become the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria. The over 26 billion naira monthly internally generated revenue being collected in Lagos State is a collective contribution of everyone who calls Lagos home. The time has come for us to always see ourselves first as Nigerians before you now talk of where you come from.

Amid all these, what will be your own suggestion as the way forward, is it by restructuring or what?

Restructuring is okay. There is nothing wrong with restructuring. Our collective focus should now be how we can remodel and restructure our nation for the collective benefit of all.

Restructuring of my own dream is the one that will bring development and foster unity in the country. Some people talk of restructuring to mean a break up of the country, to mean let everyone go his on way, to me that is not restructuring. I believe in restructuring that ensures true and genuine practice of federalism. I believe in restructuring that will make the centre attractive, and the states more stronger. I believe in restructuring that will accelerate the development of states which in turn will also fast track national development.

Nigeria is a country blessed by God, and there is no part of the country that has not been endowed with natural resources that can be commercially exploited for the benefits of the people. We can be greater than the way we are now, but we need to show more love towards one another and also believe in the project called Nigeria. We must show love to one another and jettison destructive ethnic divisions. We must strive to ensure that the dream of this nation’s founding fathers of making Nigeria a great nation is realized.

The Senate recently demanded for the 2014 national confab report with a view to looking into it and take out areas they feel will help move Nigeria forward, how do you view this development?

I see it as a welcome development. I don’t see anything wrong in taking those recommendations from 2014 confab report, which will help move Nigeria forward. I commend the Senate for doing that. That conference addressed a lot of issues which have been subjects of controversy. But the confab not only addressed such thorny issues, but was able to provide amicable solutions which I strongly believe will help to douse tension in the country if implemented.

On the issue of President Muhammadu Buhari’s challenge, and the calls by some people that he should throw in the towel if he could no longer cope, where do you stand?

We should continue to pray for the President’s recovery. We should pray that God should grant him good health to do the work. The President deserves our prayers. There should be no controversy about that. Why should people talk about Buhari resigning?

The President is a human being and anybody can fall ill anytime. As patriots, we should pray for the President that God should grant him good health. Even the Bible says we should pray for those in authority for their well being because in doing that you are not only praying for the individual involved but also for the well being of your nation.