JONATHAN, A COMBINATION OF POLITICAL VIRTUES OF AWO, ZIK AND SARDAUNA -BABATOPE
President Goodluck Jonathan
Preparatory to the hosting of President Goodluck Jonathan in Osun State tomorrow, (Thursday), the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for mass turnout of its member for the visit.
Particularly, the party stated that it was backing the aspiration of President Jonathan because he (Jonathan) combines the political virtues of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, late Owelle of Onitsha, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello.
Speaking through the Chairman, Publicity Sub-Committee of the Planning Committee of the campaign visit, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, the party also picked holes in the criticisms trailing the rousing reception organized for its jailed chieftain and former Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Olabode George.
Babatope, fondly called Ebino Topsy in political circles, reaffirmed the position of the party that Jonathan 'is the man Nigeria needs at this auspicious time in the annals of our great country'.
'We see in him the excellent political virtues of the great Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the political sagacity of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and the temperament of the Sardauna of Sokoto.
'We are of the firm belief that this is the man Nigeria needs at this auspicious time in the annals of our great country. We need a unifying factor. We need a true democrat and we need a leader who speaks the language of the youth and is in touch with the older generation', Babatope stated.
On the travails of George and his imprisonment, Babatope stated that the PDP as a party and the ruling government should be commended for not interfering in the trial of George but rather allowed the rule of law to take its full course.
'I want to say this to you, the fact of the matter underlying the trial and conviction of Bode George would soon be out. I have always seen my friend, Bode George, as a political prisoner.
'It is no cheering news that Bode was involved in re-organizing the NPA. There are lot of things we cannot be saying in the open. Bode wanted the federal nature of our country's existence to be properly examined and redefined. He employed so many people to balance the federal equation in Nigeria . But immediately, he left all those he employed were chased away.
'Even, in the prison yard, some people still make efforts to ensure that Bode George is swept out politically. So, it was not a question of the PDP or the Presidency over-playing the welcome of Bode.'
Whether we like it or not, Bode George was a former Deputy National Chairman of PDP. And Bode George, up till now, is still a member of the PDP. If at all we will castigate him, it will not be in the open, it is a party affair. So, it is not a question of celebrating him', Babatope stated.
He urged media practitioners in the country to beam their searchlights on George's antecedent, saying they would unearth his incorruptible stance and commitment to the Nigerian nation as far back as his days in the Navy.
Assessing the presidential campaigns in the country and apparent lack of issues-oriented electioneering campaign, Babatope lamented that the absence of any specific ideology as bedrock of any of the existing political party has been the bane of the current democratic experience.
He pointed out that each of all the political parties was a mixture of strange political bedfellows drawn from different political shades and leanings.