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Bode George, Oyinlola in verbal war over Obasanjo’s CNM comment

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Bode George, Oyinlola in verbal war over Obasanjo’s CNM comment

Comments about former President Olusegun Obasanjo-backed Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) has set a former governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and an erstwhile deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George, against each other in a verbal war.

The attack between the two came following a recent interview the PDP chieftain granted, where he allegedly cast aspersions on CNM and its leadership.

George had in the interview said that there was nothing to be feared about the CNM movement, of which Oyinlola is the national coordinator, in the coming 2019 general elections, adding that the movement was not going to make any meaningful impact on the outcome of the elections.

In his response, Oyinlola had reprimanded him for attacking CNM, its leadership and Obasanjo and asked him to apologise to the former president.

But replying Oyinlola in a statement on Sunday George said, “I read today the untidy, uncharitable and irritable vituperations of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola against my good self. I was rather astonished at the level of uninformed, reckless, misleading verbiage against me.

“Prince Oyinlola was very junior to me in the military. I am very senior to him in age. It was my humble self and the late Chief S.M. Afolabi who introduced him to our former President and my Egbon Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. It was through me and the grace of God Almighty that he was elected Governor of Osun State.

“Oyinlola should not dabble into issues he does not know anything about at all. I have served several generals with hundred per cent loyalty. I have no grudge against our former President. I have a lot of respect for him. I greet him wherever we meet with deep respect and reverence as a well born Yoruba man.

“Oyinlola, please don’t start to open any can of worms that you do not know where it will widen and spill over. When one is sent a slave’s errand, you should behave like a true, well born.”

Firing back in a statement also on Sunday, Oyinlola insisted that George should desist from attacking his benefactors, noting further, that his earlier statement was only meant to advise George to understand that as an officer and a gentleman, it was unkind to repay good with evil by attacking Obasanjo.

He said, “If you are allergic to the singing of birds you won’t build your house near the bush. If Chief George didn’t want me to react to him, he won’t call me and other promoters of the CNM all sorts of names as he did.

“Our ancestors in Yorubaland did not recommend kolanut as appreciation for the kind of negative words Chief George used against me and other leaders of the CNM including Chief Obasanjo.

“Chief George is my egbon by six years. I respect him and said so in my statement on Saturday. I observed he also said he was ‘very senior’ to me in the military. He used the word ‘very.’

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“It will interest him to know that I joined the Nigerian Army on September 3, 1969 and was commissioned as an officer on September 11, 1971. I want my egbon to do his calculations and justify the word ‘very’ that he used.

“However, the fact of his seniority to me in age and otherwise, has always informed the respect I have for him. But I also know that his Ile Ife title, Atona Oodua, makes some demands of him which include civility in words and action and loyalty to friends and benefactors.

“That was why I asked him to apologise to Chief Obasanjo and stop attacking anything and anyone that is connected to him.

“I am also interested in the content of the can of worms which Chief George alluded to. I believe members of the public also look forward to it from our dear Atona Oodua.”

 

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