Don’t put your ambition over national interest, Bode George asks Atiku to shelve 2027 presidential ambition

• He also implored former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to shelve his 2027 presidential ambition as he will be too old to lead the country.

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has ruled out the possibility of the party teaming up with any other opposition party for the 2027 election.

George made this known while speaking at a media parley in Lagos on Wednesday.

He also implored former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to shelve his 2027 presidential ambition as he will be too old to lead the country.

He asked the former Vice President to back a southern candidate in 2027, adding that Atiku and Northern politicians eyeing the ticket of the party in 2027 should stop putting their political ambition ahead of the national interest.

“In 2027, I can’t tell Atiku not to contest but our party must be definitive and definitively state that the presidency must still be in the south. General Muhammadu Buhari spent eight years and he is from the north.

“Our party must produce it’s own presidential candidate from the south. I hope we learnt something from the 2023 general election. We Atiku’s ambition be greater than the national ambition and national interest of our country.

“I heard someone sating they want to form a mega party to win the presidency? Which mega party, you think you can a spin and you will deliver into the basket. Do you know how long it takes to have a solid party?

“Age also has cut up with some and you can see the way they are talking and telling President Joe Biden of US to take a good rest because he is already 82 years. He wants to go for another four years and he will be the oldest president that has never ruled in America.

“My brother Atiku Abubakar is 77 years last year and by 2027 he will be 81 years. Atiku should be in a situation where he plays like the big uncle in the room or the elder in the room.

“What would anybody carry me now to do because I’m heading to 80 years and I want to go and be minister, to do what? Let’s mentor the younger generation and let’s be consistent with our strong belief in our party norms,” he said.