A prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has called on Nigerians to grant President Bola Tinubu an additional year to fulfill his promises and address the country’s challenges. Speaking on a live television show on Friday, George acknowledged the complexities of leadership, especially for a first-time president like Tinubu.
George emphasized that Tinubu needs more time to effectively implement his policies and demonstrate his vision for the nation. He highlighted the necessity for patience, noting that transitioning into the presidency comes with a steep learning curve. George drew parallels to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure, pointing out that Obasanjo also required time to adjust and find his footing during his first year in office.
The PDP chieftain’s appeal for a grace period reflects a recognition of the significant responsibilities and pressures associated with presidential leadership. He argued that allowing Tinubu more time would enable the president to navigate initial challenges and focus on long-term solutions that would benefit the country.
“He (Tinubu) had never served at that level (presidency). Well… you will say he was part of the party (APC) that formed the government (of Muhammadu Buhari), but it’s a hell of a different thing taking over and now leading the team.”
“To be fair to my conscience, he has had that one-year holiday of trying to study the failures of the past administration. I have given him that one year of grace because now he has seen it and lived there.”
“I expect his ministers to have come back in one year with those areas of lapses. Even when Baba (Olusegun Obasanjo became president in 1999, he was still trying to figure out what happened there or vise-versa in his first year. Let’s give him more time,” he said.