By CHIOMA GABRIEL, Deputy Editor
In another one week from now, the jailed former Deputy National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George will leave  the Maximum Security Prison Kirikiri, in Lagos a free man after almost two years in jail. Preparations are in top gear as the Lagos PDP has mapped out a programme  of activities to welcome the Lagos Boy back into the  fold.

A convoy of cars will lead him out of prison on February 26.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that PDP members from all parts of Lagos State are expected to await  his release at the prison entrance from where they will lead him to Cathedral Church Marina for prayers.

“We are preparing for his return. All types of men and women groups from different local government in Lagos State and other states in the South West are expected to come to Kirikiri in a motorcade to welcome him and from  there,  we would proceed to the Cathedral Church in Marina. By 10 am, he would have left Kirikiri in a convoy and by 12.30pm, the Church service would commence at Marina,” said the source.

Chieftains of the party from Abuja and other states of the federation also are expected in Lagos for the grand reception.

“Those who cannot come to the prison are expected to be at the church service or at his Ikoyi office in Lagos where he is expected to address a mammoth crowd of party man and women.”

The Lagos State secretariat of the party at GRA Ikeja is yet to catch the mood.

“This office is given to us by Chief. You cannot say we are not in the mood of celebration based on what you are seeing. All I can tell  you is to come to Kirikiri next Saturday and see for yourself. Chief Bode George is a man of colours and even in the prison custody, he remains that man of colours. Let us just say that prison is just a holiday for him because we believe that his imprisonment was politically motivated. So  much has been happening and we know some  people wanted him to be absent while the elections were taking place but nobody reckoned the elections would be postponed from January to April”, said source.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that even while in prison, Chief Bode George is in charge of PDP. The only thing is that he is not going to his office but different groups and political aspirants keep visiting him in prison, seeking his advice and using his connections.

The fact remains that he is a focused leader who is driving the PDP in the South West and beyond. He is a man of experience and connections and these come in handy all the time. There is no point telling you how prepared we are for his return.

All I can tell you is to come and see on the 26th of February from Kirikiri. We are just trying to keep things low here because people would expect somebody from prison to be in a sober mood , but we  must celebrate his return and freedom. Prison is not a home for  anybody and anybody who has been there and out needs to celebrate being alive.

“ It will be really good to have him back after two years especially now that the elections are very close. The enemies have done their worst  but this is a new dawn and everybody has learned from the mistake of the past. I am aware that contacts have been made with some  TV stations to cover his return live because  it would be a grand political event for the party, PDP,  not only in Lagos but also the entire South-West.

So for us , it is not just that the godfather is coming back but it would be a big political carnival for PDP in Lagos especially now that the elections are approaching very fast. The PDP gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State, Dr. Dosunmu has visited  him in prison and has been in consultation with him regularly.  Chief George is believed to be very influential in the emergence of Dr. Dosunmu as the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Lagos and  is expected to lead his campaign team”

“Chief accepted his fate and was never in a foul mood. Inside the prison, he has  always kept busy reading and writing. There are all kinds of books he reads to keep himself  busy when he is not having visitors and he is always in high spirits which is very good for his health. That is why he is not known  to be visiting hospitals very often because he is in a good frame of mind which you cannot say for some of those who are jailed along with him.”

Looking back at the two years that George has almost spent in prison, a source at the party secretariat told Saturday Vanguard that the top chieftain missed nothing politically.

“ If he missed anything, perhaps it is the PDP primaries but even then, he exercised influence  from the prisons. I think he is just on leave and is resting but that would soon end as we welcome him back to freedom  next week. We are preparing big for that and so, Lagosians would see a grand reception.”

In prison, Bode George and his co-travelers did  not wear prison uniforms and they lived in expensive suits where they were served by their families.

Bode George lived  like a king and was taking care of other prisoners who were always at his beck and call. He was feeding a lot of them and prison sources revealed there would be weeping and wailing when he eventually leaves.

“ It’s going to be very hard for many prisoners when Chief eventually leaves because he is the ‘father’ of all prisoners. He was the one feeding a lot of them and a large crowd always followed him around, ready to serve him. These prisoners would weep on the day he will leave. The  mood is already set and even though they want him to get freedom, they would miss his loving care”.

Chief George was jailed for contracts splitting and inflation during his tenure as  chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) alongside  five others. Their  trial started on August 15, 2008, when they were  arraigned before Justice Joseph Oyewole on a 163 count_charge of conspiracy, disobedience to lawful order, alleged inflation of contracts and contracts splitting. After the commencement of the case, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuting the case amended the 163 count_charge, reducing it into only 63 around the same categories of offences.

When their pleas were taken, they all pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

Those jailed  with Chief Olabode George were  Arc. Aminu Dabo , Captain O. Abidoye, Alhaji Abdulahi Aminu Tafida, Alhaji Zanna Maidaribe and Engr. Sule Aliyu who was joined as 6th defendant after the charge was amended. They were  found guilty and sentenced to jail for 30 months on October 26, 2009.

The sentence was handed out by Justice Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole who  found the defendants guilty on 47 out of the 63 counts charges leveled against them.