A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has dismissed allegations of anti-party activities leveled against him by Adediran Olajide, popularly known as Jandor, the party’s governorship candidate in the 2023 Lagos election.
Speaking on Eagle 102.5 FM’s Frontline program on Tuesday, George described the accusation as “an insult,” asserting that his influence in Lagos politics far outweighs Jandor’s.
He further claimed that merely giving attention to the issue could politically diminish Jandor’s relevance in the state.
Labelling Jandor as “insolent” and someone that had never worked in the party’s best interest, George said: “I am in my 80’s, he is a child, this little rat that you are talking about, what does he know about this party? Let me be frank, I consider it as an insult, a complete insolence. This boy, my children are much older than him and like I learnt in my Latin class in secondary school, it is an “infradig”, an attempt for me to respond to that clown, it is absolute rubbish.”
George added that Jandor had no idea of how the party ran, yet he was allowed a chance to be the party’s candidate, prompting people like the Labour Party’s candidate, Gbadebo Vivour-Rhodes, to step down and defect to the opposition party despite he being a more credible candidate.
“Somebody I have regard and respect for and cannot say no to, brought him (Jandor), recommended him and he competed with a highly experienced, brilliant, well educated, one who went to the best university in the world, got his degree from MIT, from a very resound family background, who had contested before in the West Senatorial District of Lagos, which contains 10 local governments, while the Central is five and the East is also five.
“So, West Senatorial District is about 50 per cent of Lagos State and he contested and obviously won, but the manipulations of the electoral commission didn’t just start today.
“This candidate is outstanding, with a very well-respected family background. We asked them to step down for one another, while the other deputise, but immediately after that, he said eh sir, someone told him before that in case he wins, he should go and take one woman from Ikorodu (Actress, Funke Akindele).
“During that primaries, we told the other boy to step down after getting the form for N21 million and of course, I was able to convince his own father, Wale Rhodes-Vivour, because we were classmates. I said his son, Gbadebo, should calm down and take the second slot, else he (GRV) would’ve beaten him (Jandor) blue black and yellow and green. He listened and accepted”, the octogenarian said.
It will be recalled that on March 4, Jandor announced his resignation from the party, citing persistent anti-party activities, internal sabotage and lack of discipline within the party.
Jandor during a media briefing in the state, said some party leaders saw his candidacy as a threat to their interest and worked against him, citing instances of attacks on his campaign and condemnation from party leaders.
He accused the state Chairman of the party, Philip Aivoji, of allegedly issuing a false statement on all PDP platforms, claiming that he (Jandor) had withdrawn from the election.
Jandor also accused Olabode George, a leader of the party in Lagos State, of openly declaring support for the governorship candidate of another party and advising Lagos residents not to vote for the PDP.
However, reacting, George said Jandor’s statement needs no direct reply, citing an unforgivable sin Jandor has committed; a sin he promised not to disclose but forward to a certain Dr. Seye Dairo to reveal to the public.
(Nation)
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