Few figures in Nigerian politics command the experience, insight, and outspokenness of Chief Bode George. A seasoned statesman, retired military officer, and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he has witnessed Nigeria’s political evolution firsthand, through its highs, lows, and unfulfilled promises.

In a media parley with Giant Women in Media, attended by webteam@Ipledge2nigeria

Chief George pulls no punches as he dissects the failures of democracy, the governance deficit, and the twin evils of tribalism and religious bigotry, which, in his words, “continue to haunt us.” He offers a candid assessment of Nigeria’s struggles and what must be done to set the country on the right path.

Beyond politics, he shares personal stories that have shaped his beliefs, including a profound perspective on religious tolerance. He emphasizes the need for leadership that prioritizes service over self-interest, warning that history will not be kind to those who abuse power.

The ruling party appears to be forcing its policies, making life difficult for many Nigerians. The PDP, which should serve as an opposition, is struggling with internal conflicts. How does this make you feel?

Very sad. No matter how much one tries to cover up, the truth will surface. Our country, though artificially created, could be in a much better position than this. Unfortunately, greed, pettiness, and poor governance have held us back.

Nigeria is abundantly blessed, both in natural and human resources. I have traveled across this country, from Lagos to Borno, Calabar to Sokoto, and everywhere, I see potential. Yet, self-interest continues to plague us.

You mentioned tribalism and religious bigotry as major issues. How have they impacted governance?

They are the biggest obstacles to national unity. People fixate on religious differences, “Oh, this one is a Muslim,” or “That one is a Christian”, but what does that have to do with governance? The Bible’s Old Testament is similar to the Torah and shares principles with the Holy Quran.

My own sister married a Muslim and became an Alhaja. I personally sponsored her and her husband to Hajj. She remained my sister. We attended church together, and she attended Quranic school. Did that change our bond? No.

Yet, people use religion to divide and discriminate. The real problem is that politicians exploit these differences to manipulate the masses.

Given the challenges, do you see hope for Nigeria?

Yes, but only if we change our mindset. Leadership should be about service, not personal gain. Look at Alexander the Great, he conquered the world but died with nothing. He even ordered that his hands be left outside his coffin to show he was taking nothing with him. Yet here, people hoard wealth as if they can take it to the afterlife.

What should the government focus on right now?

Three things: economic reform, security, and youth empowerment. People are suffering. Fuel prices are crippling businesses while those in the banking sector make billions. If the president truly cares, he should collaborate with financial institutions to stabilize fuel prices.

Youth unemployment is another crisis. When I was younger, we had trade centers where people learned carpentry, tailoring, hairdressing, and other skills. Now, nothing. That’s why we have a Yahoo Yahoo epidemic, because the system has failed young people.

What do you think is the real solution to Nigeria’s problems?

It’s simple: treat others as you want to be treated. The Holy Books say, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” It doesn’t specify “your Yoruba neighbor” or “your Hausa neighbor.”

None of us chose where to be born. We didn’t request to be Christian, Muslim, Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, or even German. We just came into the world, and one day, we will leave. So why all this deceit?

Power is temporary. If you are truly competent and deserving, nothing can stop you from achieving what God has planned for you.

You’ve had a long journey in politics. Did you ever plan to become a politician?

No, never. I had different aspirations, but life took me in this direction. At one point, I even wanted to be the chairman of my party, but people undermined me. The day before the convention, I realized it would cause a major crisis, so I stepped aside. But am I still not here, contributing? Titles don’t define impact.

You’ve been vocal about Nigeria’s governance. What is the biggest issue?

We are not serious as a country. We have both natural and human resources, yet we are struggling. Other nations envy what we have, but we waste it.

Look at Ghana, during their elections, the sitting president conceded before the final results. No manipulations, no drama. Here, we introduce a new system, and suddenly, there’s a glitch. It’s disgraceful.

Would you say Nigeria’s democratic system has failed?

Absolutely. The current constitution is the root of our problems. Every month, states go to Abuja to collect their share of national revenue instead of generating their own. That’s not democracy; it’s a unitary system disguised as federalism.

We copied America’s democracy but refuse to implement it properly. In the U.S., each state has its own resources, local police, and financial autonomy. Here, everything is controlled from Abuja, which is a recipe for failure.

Do you believe restructuring is the answer?

Yes, but not just any restructuring, a real, practical one. In the First Republic, major tribes held all the power while minorities were sidelined. That led to instability.

The Alex Ekwueme group proposed a six-zone structure to ensure fair representation: Northwest, Northeast, North Central, Southwest, Southeast, and South-South. The top six positions, President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker, Secretary to Government, and Party Chairman, were distributed among these zones. That system worked because it gave everyone a stake in governance.

But that system has been ignored in recent years, and the consequences are clear. When one region hoards all the power, resentment builds. That was a fundamental mistake my party made. If Ekwueme, despite contesting twice, accepted defeat without causing chaos, why can’t others? The problem is self-centeredness.

If you had one message for today’s leaders, what would it be?

Nothing lasts forever. Power is temporary. Use your leadership to serve, not to loot. People are hungry and angry. A land of plenty should not have starving citizens. If we don’t change course, history will not be kind to us.