By Godwin Oritse, Abdulwahab Abdulah, Ishola Balogun, Dapo Akinrefon & Ifeanyi Okolie

GREAT celebrations heralded the release of former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George, from the Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Lagos, yesterday, after serving two-year jail term, as  hundreds of party supporters and well wishers welcomed him to a warm reception.

Traffic at the entire area came  at a stand still as  hundreds of supporters blocked the car parks and the road leading to the Kirikiri prisons.

Bode George, who was in high spirit, acknowledged greetings from supporters with a victory sign when he hung on the door of a Toyota sports utility vehicle, SUV, marked BE 252 BDG, wearing  white buba and sokoto with black shoes to match.

Bode George, who stepped out of the gates of the prison at exactly 10:40 a.m., was met by Lagos State PDP chieftains who ushered him into the waiting vehicle and drove straight to the Cathedral Church of  Christ at the Marina, Lagos for a thanksgiving service.

Bode George on his arrival at the Cathedral Church Of Christ Marina Lagos yesterday .

Thousands of party supporters had gathered around Kirikiri as early as 7:00 a.m., notwithstanding movement restriction occasioned by the monthly environmental sanitation, waiting for the release of the ‘Lagos Boy’, also referred to as Atoona Oodua of Ife.  Many were clad in aso-ebi and customized T-Shirts having his photograph with inscriptions such as: “We thank God, we know your incarceration is highly political” – G18, etc, defying the security personnel and the armed guards of the Prison Service who had barricaded the road  with dozens of dogs.

However, the euphoria was not without overzealousness from some supporters of the politician. They attacked a photo journalist for defying their instruction not to take the picture of Bode George while stepping out of  the prison yard. The photographer was harassed, beaten while his camera was seized but later returned after the intervention of some elders of the party present.

In the same vein, prison officials did everything to prevent the surging crowd from moving near the prison gate. Journalists, who approached the PRO of the state command of the prisons, Mr Ope Fanimikun, telling him they were there to do their constitutional duty, were rebuffed as dogs belonging to the prisons were unleashed on them.

Among top politicians present at the church service were Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Ogun State governor; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Mr. Ayo Fayose, former Ekiti State governor; Defence Minister, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode; the Minister of the Environment, John Odeh; Gen Tunji Olurin; Mrs Modinat Adedibu; deputy governor of Oyo State, Mr. Taofeek Arapaja; Ambassador Musiliu Obanikoro;  Chief Tunji Ayanlaja, (Bode George’s lawyer); Chief Raymond Dokpesi; and PDP south west vice chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladapo.

Obasanjo, who came to the service at about 1 p.m., embraced  Bode George and exchanged pleasantries with politicians including  Daniel.

Bode George, who did not show any sign of degeneration, spoke to newsmen immediately after the church service. He  said he holds no grudge against anybody and wished  everybody well.

He said: “Out there in the prison, you are totally blacked out. You don’t know what is going on. I want to thank you guys, thank all Nigerians with no malice to nobody and love for all.  We will make our country an envy of other nations.  I have collected the certificate from the university of life and I thank God. I just graduated from the university of life”.

Bode George with his wife Roli

Reacting to the release of Bode George, former transport minister, Ebenezer Babatope, condemned the judgment that sent the PDP chieftain to prison, saying:  “There is nobody in government who is not guilty of contract splitting. Bode is a man of the people.  I have been Bode’s friends for 45 years, I know him very well that he will never put a  penny of anybody’s money in his pocket.”

He stated that what the judge jailed Bode George for, i.e., splitting of contract, many politicians who had been in government are guilty of the same offence.

The former minister stressed that Bode George went for political imprisonment and not criminal imprisonment.  He noted that the ex-convict is a big influence in Lagos politics and his presence would positively change the fortunes of the party in the next elections in the South-West.

Speaking in similar vein, Dokpesi, chairman, Daar Communications, said Bode George’s experience should be a lesson to other privileged Nigerians, noting that anything can happen to anybody at anytime.

Dokpesi stated that he was aware of the issues and challenges of the Nigeria ports system, having been part of it, adding that Bode George has been unjustly treated.

His words: “I think we have to thank Almighty God for His grace and protecting Chief Bode George through his travails and is a very clear indications to every Nigerian especially those that are privileged.

“I think there was a miscarriage of justice.  I worked in the Nigeria Ports Authority in my earlier years, I know the issues and challenges of Nigeria Ports Authority.  I participated very actively in the decentralisation of the Nigerian ports and the issues for which he was accused. I am not unfamiliar with them and I think that justice has not been properly carried.  It is unfortunate that what  happened is  to a man that believes in the unity of this country, a man that believes in nationhood, a man that is committed to uplifting the good of his people.  I pray that God give him the strength and character to be able to continue, not to be broken down in spite of the travails he has gone through.”

In her reaction, the wife of Bode George, Mrs Roli Adeniyi-George, said: “I thank God even though the justice system has betrayed us. God is faithful.  With the mammoth crowd outside, everybody knows that he is innocent. Man has failed us but God will never fail.  He is happy and healthy.  People wanted him to stay in prison so that he will not partake in the April elections but God went ahead of them and brought him out of prison. By God’s grace, I know PDP will take over Lagos State.”

From left; Mrs Rolli George, Minister of Defence Ademola Adetokunbo, Chief Bode George, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Ogun state governor at he thanksgiving service in honour of Chief Olabode George after his release from the Kirikiri Prisonsat the Cathedral Church Of Christ Marina Lagos yesterday .

She commended the officials of the Nigerian Prison Service for the love and care they gave her husband while in incarceration.

Also speaking, former minister of works and housing, Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju, stated that the release of Bode George called for a big celebration, adding that the politician will start from where he stopped in his political life.

“Today is a very good day for the PDP, his family and well wishers in welcoming him back to our fold.”

He continued: “to show our love for him, we decided to organise this reception and I am happy at the turn out and I am sure he too (Bode George) will be very happy for the warm welcome his friends have put together for him”.
Olanrewaju noted that Bode George’s release from prison will bring about a change in the political permutations in Lagos State, adding that he still has the energy and the mental capacity to take the party to greater heights.

The presiding priest, at the Church of Christ, Marina, service, Venerable Tayo Aduloju, in his sermon, warned politicians against corruption, saying that a greedy politician brings trouble to his family.

The priest threatened to stop the service when party supporters attempted to turn the gathering to a political rally.

At Bode George’s house

At exactly 2:45 pm, Bode  George arrived his No. 18a, Luggard avenue residence in a black Toyota Land Cruiser SUV.

George, who was accompanied by his wife Roli, was welcomed by party leaders and supporters.

Dignitaries who thronged the Luggard Avenue residence of the PDP chieftain include: former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Agagu; former deputy governor of  Osun State, Chief Olusola Obada; Senator Florence Ita-Giwa; Chief Mrs Remi Adikwu Bakare; chairman of PDP in Lagos State, Mr Setonji Koshoedeo; Dr Ade Dosumu and Chief Deji Doherty.

However, conspicuous absent at the welcome party were party leaders such as former Minister of Information, Chief Dapo Sarumi, former Minister of Works, Sen Adeseye Ogunlewe, former Minister of State for Defence, Mr Demola Seriki and Mr Femi Pedro.

Banners, posters and T-Shirts had inscriptions such as: “You are welcome our amiable leader”, “Team Solution welcomes our great leader,” “The journey of a thousand miles can only be walked by giants”,“You are indeed a giant and courageous man,” “The Joseph of our time and Welcome back Uncle BG.”

Meanwhile before the arrival of George, renovation work had been carried out in and around his residence.

Also, to add colour to the party, the women wing adorned themselves in different attires just as band groups and musicians played to the enjoyment of those present.
Security around the residence was provided by men of the Nigeria Police who had difficulty controlling the crowd that converged.