Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has blamed Nigeria’s colonial past for many of the deep divisions affecting the country today. Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, the elder statesman said tribalism and religious intolerance—two factors he believes were fuelled by British colonial rule—have continued to shape national discourse and worsen insecurity and poverty.
George, a retired Navy Commodore and one of the PDP’s most senior figures, said Nigeria has failed to fully overcome the damaging legacy left by the British when they departed in 1960. According to him, the country has instead carried these problems into every major national issue, making development difficult.
During the live interview, George said:
“When the British left here, they left two evils in this country. The first is tribalism, and the second is religious bigotry.”
He questioned why Nigerians continue to judge themselves based on ethnic or religious identity when, according to him, no one chooses the circumstances of their birth.
“The day you were born, did you ask Almighty God where you wanted to be? To be a Yoruba man, a Hausa man, or a Fulani man?” he asked.
He said Nigeria has allowed ethnic and religious divisions to determine how people relate to one another, how they vote, how appointments are made, and even how security issues are handled. “Every issue surrounds it,” he lamented. “What has it got to do with putting a smile on the faces of people?”
George argued that instead of focusing on solving economic issues and building a stronger country, leaders continue to rely on identity politics, which he said has helped fuel disunity and mistrust.
Turning his attention to current economic hardships, George appealed to the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to urgently address the hunger and frustration spreading across the country.
He warned that the combination of widespread poverty, rising prices, and political tension as Nigeria moves closer to another election cycle could lead to serious instability if not properly managed.
“We are facing terrible hunger in the land, and there is anger in the land,” he said. “They should do something especially for the youth to engage themselves meaningfully. We are heading to an election year. When you compound all those together, it is a time bomb.”
His comments come amid rising food inflation, growing unemployment, and reports of criminal activities linked to poverty and lack of opportunities for young people.
George also spoke at length about Nigeria’s worsening security situation, describing it as deeply troubling. He noted that attacks, kidnappings, and killings have become increasingly common, affecting not just rural areas but major cities as well.
He highlighted recent cases where innocent Nigerians, including women and schoolchildren, were kidnapped or killed. He argued that the structure of policing in Nigeria is no longer capable of tackling the scale of insecurity the country faces.
“First of all, what is wrong with establishing state police?” he asked. “We have seen nobody is going to cancel the Federal Police, but policing is local.”
He explained that people who live within communities understand their environment better and can identify suspicious behavior more easily than officers brought in from other states.
“When you now turn the boys who live in the same area and legalize their existence to put smiles on the faces of the people, it will be better to manage because they will understand the language of the locals. They know the do’s and don’ts in their own area. So why are we wasting time?”
George said he was encouraged by recent signals that several political and traditional groups across the country are now in support of state policing. For years, the idea of state police has been a major topic of national debate, with some northern leaders initially resisting the proposal.
However, he noted that the mood appears to be shifting.
“I am happy I read something last week after the Arewa Consultative meeting in the North. They met and took a decision that they have agreed to a state police,” he said.
He also pointed out that governors in the Southwest, including those in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Osun states, have also formally declared support for the idea.
“The Southwest met with their governors, and the governors’ statement made after that conference is that they also accept having state police.”
George said the growing unity on the issue shows that Nigerians across regions now realise that centralised policing can no longer address the country’s challenges.
He questioned why the Federal Government has not yet moved quickly to implement state policing, especially now that insecurity is affecting almost every part of the country.
“What are we wasting time for?” he asked. “Because the way it is, you don’t even know who is telling the truth or who is telling the lie.”
He warned that failing to reform Nigeria’s policing system could worsen the already fragile security environment.
Nigeria currently operates a centralized police force controlled from Abuja. Critics say this structure is outdated and not suited to a country with diverse cultures, languages, and security challenges.
Former presidents, National Assembly members, and regional groups have debated state policing for decades. Supporters of state police say it would improve safety, reduce response times, and eliminate the problem of officers who are unfamiliar with local communities.
Opponents, however, fear that some governors could misuse state police for political intimidation. But insecurity has grown so severe in recent years—affecting farmers, schools, highways, and communities—that many leaders who once opposed the idea are now reconsidering.
In closing, George said Nigeria needs leaders who can unite the country rather than deepen divisions. He said colonialism may have introduced tribalism and religious bigotry, but Nigerians themselves must now work to overcome these issues.
“We must fix this country together,” he said. “We cannot keep blaming our past while failing to act in the present.”
