Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George, is interested in the 2023 presidential race.
Sources closed to the former governor of old Ondo State is consulting with friends and stakeholders of his party about his ambition.
He is presently in London where he is testing the grounds by holding series of meetings in UK and Berlin, Germany.
George, the Director-General (D-G) of the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Campaign Organisation in 2006/2007, is no doubt a tested well bred politician .
Although he is still a loyal member of PDP, it is still not clear whether he still interested to use the political platform to actualise his ambition.
The Atona Odua of Yorubaland, it is learnt has the backings of a former President and former Head of State.
Other big wigs in PDP and in other parties had already endorsed the move to see George succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
This move is based on the calculation that the presidency will move to the South-West.
Some members of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation led by nonagenarian Reuben Fasoranti, are also believed to be backing George’s ambition.
It was reliably gathered that the London and Berlin meetings were attended by former Senate President, a former Chief of Naval Staff, a retired General who had issues with President Muhammadu Buhari when he was Head of State between December 31, 1983 and August 26, 1985, a prominent power broker during the administration of a former president, a former governor of a state in the North-East and two ministers during the Yar’Adua administration.
Chief George, an experienced administrator, orator and politician, is likely to unveil his presidential plans in the middle of 2020 .
A source disclosed that three committees – Finance, Strategy and Contact – had already been set up, headed by the former Chief of Naval Staff, a former Minister and a former South-South governor.
Prince, Uthman Shodipe-Dosunmu, one of Chief George’s close associates confirmed the development.
He said :“people may believe it is a joke now but when reality dawns on them, they will wake up. The truth is that some prominent Nigerians have resolved to back Chief Bode George in the race for 2023. This is real and authoritative. In fact, a group, The Pathfinder Consortium, is already working underground as a foundation for a bigger and more robust national platform to actualise this presidential ambition.
“We can say 2023 is still far away but at the same time, it is not too far. Many stakeholders want real change in the country, politically and economically. This is not about PDP or APC. This is about Nigeria.
“I only attended the Lagos meeting. I was not part of the ones held outside the country so, I can’t really give you details of what happened there. But, I can only tell you that this is a pan-Nigerian movement”.