Northern Pulse: Act like your age — Wike’s aide slams Bode George over media attacks

By Philip Yatai

Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has launched a fierce criticism against Chief Bode George, urging the PDP elder statesman to retire gracefully from political squabbles and preserve his dignity.

According to Olayinka, it is embarrassing for a former military governor of Ondo State (1988) to routinely hop across television networks to malign younger politicians.

He argued that at 81, George should project decorum rather than constantly creating spectacles in the political arena.

Admonishing Bode George to begin to "act like an elder that he is supposed to be," Olayinka added: "Even if a man was overspoilt, rascally, too playful and dull as a child, at 81, he should have outgrown those vices.

"In Yorubaland, it is a strict cultural and traditional rule to respect elders. However, this respect is not automatic, it is conditional and the major condition is that an elder must avoid disrespecting himself.

“That is the reason it is said that 'an elder who chooses to tie corn to his waist and run around will have fowls chasing and making mockery of him.

"For someone who was Military Governor of the old Ondo State in 1988 (38 years ago), some level of decorum and maturity is expected.

“But it is becoming an embarrassment the way a man like Chief Bode George, who should be acting like an elder statesman, is jumping from one television station to the other to malign people who are young enough to be his children.

"Today, who among those eminent Nigerians who served as Military Governors with Bode George between 1988 and 1990 are doing 'political we no go gree' up and down, jumping from one media house to another to lie?

“Even in the PDP, who among those who served in the party's National Working Committee with him is talking anyhow in the media as he is doing?”

Olayinka challenged George to show his political track record, pointing out that unlike other South-West states that have elected PDP governors, Lagos PDP has remained ineffective under George’s leadership, with the elder statesman unable to win even his own polling unit since 1999.

"Unlike Lagos State, we have had PDP governors in Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo and Osun States. Methinks rather than doing 'cho cho cho' all the time, Bode George needs to tell Nigerians why PDP has remained at the sideline in the politics of Lagos State since 1999.”

The aide highlighted George’s repeated, publicly declared promises—at least six times between 2015 and 2022—to renounce his citizenship or flee Nigeria (to places like Ghana or Togo) if Bola Ahmed Tinubu became President.

Olayinka noted that years into Tinubu's presidency, George remained in Nigeria, damaging his credibility.

Reaffirming Minister Wike’s earlier stance, Olayinka maintained that George lacks the moral high ground to preach against corruption.

He reiterated Wike's allegation that George’s Abuja residence was purchased with funds traced back to Rivers State—a claim Olayinka noted George has yet to properly address.

"Wike was clear. He said Bode George's Abuja house was acquired with funds from Rivers State, and he stands by this.

"Bode George said he bought the property from a private owner through an agent. That is not the issue.

"Wike's statement was never about who the property was purchased from or through. Rather, what he said was that the money with which the property was acquired came from Rivers State, and this is the question Bode George must answer,” he said.

Olayinka said by invoking Yoruba cultural values, reminding George that while elders are traditionally respected, respect is earned by self-dignity and holding true to one's word.