Tribalism, religious bigotry are two devils haunting Nigeria — Bode George

Former Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George, has decried Nigeria’s persistent political and governance crises, attributing them to tribalism, religious bigotry, and a deeply flawed democratic system.

In an interview, the elder statesman warned that unless Nigeria undergoes real restructuring, its democratic experiment will continue to falter.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s abundant resources, George lamented how greed and self-interest have undermined the country’s potential. “God gave us a massive land, rich in both natural and human resources. There is no part of this country that isn’t blessed. Yet, greed and self-interest continue to plague us,” he said.

He accused political elites of failing to prioritize governance, allowing corruption and inefficiency to fester. “Other nations envy what we have, but we waste it. Look at Ghana; during their elections, the sitting president conceded before the final results. No manipulations, no drama. Here, we introduce a new system, and suddenly, there’s a glitch. It’s disgraceful.”

George pointed to tribalism and religious bigotry as two major obstacles to national unity and good governance. “People make a big deal out of religious differences, ‘Oh, this one is a Muslim,’ or ‘That one is a Christian.’ But what does that have to do with the price of milk?” he asked.

He shared personal experiences of religious tolerance, including how his older sister married a Muslim and became an Alhaja. “She remained my sister till the end. So, I ask, what do religious labels have to do with how we treat one another?”

According to George, these divisions are deliberately fueled by politicians for personal gain. “The British left us two devils: tribalism and religious bigotry. But tell me, what does religion have to do with governance?”

George did not mince words in his criticism of Nigeria’s political structure, declaring that the current system is fundamentally flawed. “It has failed, absolutely. The current constitution is the root of our problems. Every month, states go to Abuja to collect their share of national revenue instead of generating their own. That’s not democracy; it’s a unitary system disguised as federalism,” he asserted.

He advocated for a return to the six-zone structure proposed by former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, arguing that it provided a more equitable distribution of power. “When one region hoards all the power, resentment builds. That’s exactly what happened to my party. The presidential candidate, national chairman, and other key positions all came from the same region. That was a fundamental mistake,” he explained.

For Nigeria to move forward, George insists that meaningful restructuring is the only solution. “Not just any restructuring, but a real, practical one. If we continue on this path, we are only postponing disaster.”

He warned that failure to implement genuine reforms would deepen the country’s woes. “People are suffering. The price of fuel is crippling businesses, yet those who control the banking sector are making billions. If the president truly cares about the people, he should work with the financial sector to stabilize fuel prices,” he urged.

With the country facing economic hardship, insecurity, and rising youth unemployment, George called for urgent reforms. “We had trade centers where people learned carpentry, tailoring, and hairdressing. Now, nothing. That’s why we have a Yahoo Yahoo epidemic, because the system has failed young people,” he said.

He issued a stern warning to political leaders: “Nothing lasts forever. Power is temporary. If you are in leadership, use the opportunity to serve, not to loot. A land of plenty should not have starving citizens. If we don’t change course, history will not be kind to us.”

As Nigeria grapples with these challenges, George’s words serve as both a diagnosis and a call to action. Whether the country’s leaders will heed his warnings remains to be seen.