Lere Olayinka, who serves as the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has reiterated that the Abuja residence owned by former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Bode George, was purchased using resources originating from Rivers State.
In a statement released on Thursday, Olayinka clarified that the minister remains firm in his previous assertion. He emphasized that the primary concern is not the identity of the seller or the intermediary involved in the transaction, but rather the origin of the funds utilized for the acquisition. Olayinka stressed that this is the specific point Bode George must address.
This response follows recent public remarks by the former military governor. Olayinka challenged Bode George’s moral authority to discuss corruption, suggesting he should adopt a more mature demeanor befitting his background as a former military governor. He described George’s recent media appearances as a source of embarrassment, particularly for someone who should be acting as an elder statesman.
Olayinka further criticized Bode George’s leadership within the PDP in Lagos State, pointing out that the party has failed to secure a victory in his own polling unit since 1999. He questioned why the PDP has struggled to remain relevant in Lagos politics under George’s guidance, unlike in other neighboring states where the party has held gubernatorial seats.
Addressing the concept of respect, Olayinka noted that while Yoruba culture values elders, this respect is earned through conduct. He accused Bode George of failing to fulfill repeated public pledges to renounce his Nigerian citizenship or leave the country if Bola Tinubu became president. Olayinka listed several instances between 2015 and 2022 where George made such commitments, noting that three years into the current administration, the former governor remains in the country.
