Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has cautioned the incoming Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that Nigerians are allowed to freely choose their leaders, warning that anything short of this would lead the country into chaos.

In an interview with ARISE News on Tuesday, George said, “Firstly, I want to plead that the new chairman of INEC must come with a conscience. Because if you don’t allow Nigerians to decide and you impose, we are heading to hell. Let the will be decided by the people, who they want,” George said.

The PDP chieftain expressed satisfaction that the opposition party was stabilising ahead of the next presidential contest.

“I am happy that the PDP is settling down. The party has decided that for the next four years, the presidential candidate of PDP will come from the South. Former President Jonathan has been cleared by the court and can contest. And there are others who will also contest. There will be competition at the presidential convention, which will come sometime next year,” he stated.

George compared the records of past and present administrations, insisting that Nigerians fared better during Jonathan’s tenure.

“If you look at Jonathan’s period, ask any Nigerian and ask them, what have you been feeling since, from Buhari’s period to Bola Tinubu’s period? Check out the economic indices. Is it the interest rate? The inflation rate? The value of Naira compared to the dollar? Who is happy now, whether you are a rich man or a poor man? You go to the market, things that they used to buy for maybe about 5,000 naira is now about 25,000 naira.”

“And they are claiming that, oh, their economic indices. Anybody who is coming out will show their documents, and whatever Nigerians felt during Jonathan’s period, and what they are feeling now with the APC in government. Is it the issue of the oil sector? No.

“How much was the cost of a pump of fuel during his period, and what is it now? Are you putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians? It’s not a matter of just howling out from the villa and saying, oh, you should not come. You should not. You don’t have a right to say that. Anybody who is bearing the flag of our people is not ‘emi lokan’. No. There will be competition at the convention. People will decide who is going to be our flag bearer.”

He stressed that Jonathan’s record remained more favourable than the current government’s. “But let’s say that they choose Jonathan. What are the records? Very pleasant. Nigerians were not as angry as they were at that time,” George said.

The PDP stalwart also criticised First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu over her recent call for donations to build a national library.

“Now, something happened recently where the First Lady, Remi, decided that she wanted to build a national library. And she said people should donate so much directly to her account. I beg you, Remi, our First Lady, ‘wadi aburo’, It is not on,” he said.

He further said “As a First Lady, yes, but to build a national library in two days. Those people that I keep complaining about, these bankers, have donated 20.7 billion naira. And they mentioned their names.

“That money would have gone into a special fund which I have been campaigning about to meet the needs, skill acquisition programmes for millions of this young generation. In fact, many of those graduates now who have graduated from universities have no hope. There’s no job. Establish microcredits through this special fund. Instead of saying you want to build a national library, tell your husband, let them set up this special fund,” he said. (AriseNews TV)