By Ayo Onikoyi
The former chairman of Nigerian Ports Authority and PDP stalwart who was just released from prison might have come home to a hero’s welcome from his supporters and the party bigwigs but a drama that ensued during the President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign rally in Lagos during the week showed that there are definitely some members of the party who are not cheerfully disposed to the politician being released or may still be harbouring some grudges against him.
*Bode George
The rally was as cordial as it was well attended by the party big names including PDP state governors, federal senators, the party trustee members. The atmosphere of friendship and camaraderie was so pervading that one could barely notice any friction among the party faithfuls even though there are so many of them yet to settle their differences. Even former president Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun state did not comport themselves as if there was still an axe to grind between them. Everything was as cosmetic and plausible as far as decent politics could get.
But the first love-lost and tension ensued when the former Works Minister, Adeseye Ogunlewe mounted the stage to greet people on the front-row. There sitting on a row were Govenor Ikedi Ohakim on the left, next to him was Chief Bode George, then Chief Anthony Anenih, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, then Vice President Nemadi Sambo and then Governor Goodluck Jonathan and others.
After shaking Governor Ohakim of Imo state, the former Works Minister, Chief Ogunlewe openly ignored Chief Bode George, moving on to shake Chief Anenih, Chief Obasanjo, the Vice President, the President and others. It would be recalled that both Chief Bode George and Chief Seye Ogunlewe belong in different factions of the party but one would have expected a warm welcome for Bode George who has been absent on the scene for some time.
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