Bode George’s Return In The Eyes Of The People

SUNDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2011 00:00 BY ARMSFREE AJANAKU ONOMO NEWS - METRO


ON this hot and sunny afternoon, Marina, and the streets adjoining it stood still. For a Saturday, not many had expected that the traffic would be this chaotic. The taxi driver conveying the reporter cursed under his breath as he tried to navigate through the maze of vehicles that had clogged the whole stretch of the bridge. “All dis problem just because of man wen return from prison,” he spat.

From the bridge, one could get a panoramic view of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, where the thanksgiving service for Chief Olabode George held. George, the former South West Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was released from prison yesterday, after completing his jail term.

The driver laughed derisively, shook his head pitifully as he pointed in the direction of the church. From that vantage point, an OB van belonging to the Africa Independent Television loomed large. “So dem go show dis tin wey dem dey do so for TV,” he queried. By now, he had stopped driving; his gaze was now fastened on the direction of the church. “Dis country no fit ever good again,” he declared with a tone of finality.

Having remained on the same spot for close to 20 minutes, the reporter hopped on an okada, thus parting ways with the flabbergasted cab driver.

Just in front of the church, the tumultuous nature of events, gave the misleading impression that a Nobel Prize winner was being welcomed back home. Traders, bus drivers, and others doing business in the area came out in large number to stare morosely as the convoys of siren blaring cars kept arriving, and departing the venue.

At different spots, pockets of fights were going on between young men over how to share some bundles of money that had been thrown at them by arriving and departing dignitaries. Blocking a portion of the road leading to the church were parked buses, which conveyed supporters of the PDP from within Lagos, and different parts of the South West. PDP candidates contesting for different positions in the April polls were fully represented. Their supporters held up banners and posters welcoming Bode George back.

From the inscriptions on the vests they wore, one could glean an attempt to reinterpret Bode George’s image as an ex-convict. So a good number of the shirts carried messages that described George as the “Joseph of our time.” This was no doubt an allusion to the travails of Joseph in the Bible, who left prison to become Pharaoh’s prime minister. Also, Bode George’s relatively obscure title, “Atona Odua,” which roughly translates to mean the torchbearer of Yorubaland was also on display on the shirts worn by other supporters.

From the crowd gathered outside the church, an attempt to find any hint of opprobrium seemed like looking for an oasis in the desert.

A trader who gave his name as Eze said of the thanksgiving: “He has to thank God, many people went to prison and they never came back. So since he was able to go there and return, it shows that he is a strong man, and he can enjoy whatever he has now.”

Quizzed on Bode George’s status as an ex-con, Eze replied: “You are the one that is thinking about that, at least you can see that so many people, even the former President was here to welcome him. So we in Nigeria do not have time to know whether someone went to jail or not. As long as he has money to spend, people will continue to worship him.”

For some of those who travelled all the way to be part of the event, the motive was political. One of them who said he came in from Oyo State to attend the event said; “You are a journalist, and you can see for yourself how much people love this man. Whatever happened to him is in the past, and he is willing to start a new life, so let nobody judge him. Nobody is perfect, and that is one thing I want people judging our leader to know.”

However, not everyone rolled over to welcome George. Adebiyi, one of those who attended the service blamed those around George for organising the events for pecuniary gains.

“The truth must be said; all these things they are doing are worthless. This man’s life cannot remain the same again, and everyone here knows it. Even, the preachers said it during the service, that Bode George must now change his ways and dedicate himself to God. All this celebration you are seeing is the handiwork of those who want to make some money, using George’s name because I do not believe that a man who has been behind bars for two years would have the energy to start organising big things like we are seeing.

“I think what the man needs now is more sober reflection because giving the impression that he is celebrating, like we are being made to believe now, amounts to sending the wrong message that it pays to do the wrong thing.”

Back at Lugard Avenue in Ikoyi, where PDP members and other well wishers returned for the reception, it was another round of pushing and shoving amidst drumming and singing by scores of praise singers. They hundreds of people that turned up at the reception jostled for food and drinks, just as a fuji musician remained on standby to entertain the guests.

A young man, who runs a barber’s shop in Luggard Avenue described Bode George as a man who mingles well with everyone in the neighbourhood. Asked what he felt about the ex-prisoner’s return, he said: “There is no problem; he is back now, and he can continue enjoying his money. At least they did not take away any of his properties, so he has not really lost anything.”

http://guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=39919:bode-georges-return-in-the-eyes-of-the-people&catid=3:metro&Itemid=558

are you obsessed with Bode George? Almost 6 posts on Bode George.

Why is Tinubu roaming around like a free man if Ibori is hounded up and down? Tinubu must have been a saint in the Lagos government house for 8 years? Is Ribadu, who vowed to prosecute him and called him a thief of international proportions, is he not now romancing with the same Tinubu?

potof_soup:

are you obsessed with Bode George? Almost 6 posts on Bode George.

Why is Tinubu roaming around like a free man if Ibori is hounded up and down? Tinubu must have been a saint in the Lagos government house for 8 years? Is Ribadu, who vowed to prosecute him and called him a thief of international proportions, is he not now romancing with the same Tinubu?

acusin person of obsession. You have open between 2 to 4 threads on the strong ACN man in the s.west

“So dem go show dis tin wey dem dey do so for TV ?”

I think this is the quote of the year. . . SMH