Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George, has said his long-standing political rivalry with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu no longer translates into personal enmity.

George, who spoke on national television yesterday, said both men had moved beyond the bitterness that once characterised their political relationship.

He stressed that political disagreements should not be allowed to degenerate into personal hatred, noting that although he remained one of Tinubu’s outspoken critics, there was no personal animosity between them.

George said, “We are no more enemies. We have disagreed politically over the years, but that does not mean we must remain enemies forever.”

The elder statesman added that he and Tinubu now exchange pleasantries whenever they meet.

He said political maturity required politicians to distinguish between political differences and personal relationships.

“If I see him today, I greet him. If he sees me, he greets me. That is the way life should be. Politics should not become a personal war.”

George noted that while he remains committed to the PDP and has no intention of joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), he believes democracy thrives when political actors respect one another despite ideological differences.

“I am still a PDP man. I have not changed my party. But politics is about service, not hatred.”

The former military officer said Nigerians should stop viewing politics as a battlefield where opponents become permanent enemies, arguing that countries with enduring democracies allow politicians to disagree vigorously while maintaining mutual respect.

He also reflected on his decades-long rivalry with Tinubu in Lagos politics, saying both have grown older and wiser.

“Age teaches you many lessons. We have come a long way. There is no need carrying bitterness forever.”

Despite the conciliatory tone, George insisted he would continue to criticise the Tinubu administration whenever government policies fall short of public expectations.

“If I see something that is wrong, I will say it. Constructive criticism is part of democracy. That does not make me anybody’s enemy.”

He added that patriotism requires political leaders to place Nigeria’s interest above personal or partisan considerations, urging politicians across party lines to embrace dialogue and tolerance rather than hostility.

George’s remarks represent one of his warmest public comments about Tinubu in recent years, even as he reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP and his determination to remain an active opposition voice. (The Nation)

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