Bode George Calls for Implementation of 2014 National Conference Report

Bode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), issued a public appeal to President Bola Tinubu: implement the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference. This plea, delivered during a Friday press conference in Lagos, served as a tribute to the recently deceased Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Edwin Clark.

Adebanjo, the late Afenifere leader, passed away at 96 on February 14th and will be laid to rest today (Saturday) in Ogun State. Clark, a prominent Niger Delta leader, died at 97 on February 17th and will be buried on May 13th in Delta State.

Both men were key figures in the 2014 National Conference, convened under former President Goodluck Jonathan. George, advocating for a fitting memorial, proposed enacting the Conference’s resolutions—a testament to their life’s work and a contribution to national progress.

The retired naval commodore and former Ondo State governor described his close collaboration with Adebanjo and Clark during the Conference’s sub-committee on constitutional systems. He stated, “Mr President, I am appealing to you today, May 2 to release the report of the 2014 Confab for the benefit of the people of this country, in memory of the two old men, to immortalise their names. These individuals (Adebanjo, Clark, and other elder statesmen) implore Tinubu to release and implement this report. It achieved unanimous plenary approval. This is our path to peace. Witnessing their dedication—they passed away within three days of each other—I believe we should continue their unfinished work.”

George argued that the nation’s current trajectory—marked by economic instability, political turmoil, and security challenges—necessitates a review of the 2014 Conference’s proposals. He stressed that the existing constitutional framework fails to address the needs and aspirations of the Nigerian people. Implementation of these recommendations, he asserted, would offer solutions to pervasive challenges like corruption, nepotism, regionalism, and poverty.

Furthermore, George urged Tinubu to remain steadfast in addressing economic hardships and security threats. He emphasized the critical need for electoral reform to ensure elections truly reflect the people’s will. Addressing the recent migration of prominent PDP figures to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), George admitted to a lack of clarity regarding their motives. He stressed, however, the urgent need for internal reconciliation within the PDP to rebuild public trust. He concluded by urging PDP leaders to prioritize the party’s interests over personal ambitions, insisting, “the PDP is not finished.”