Bode George
| Olabode Ibiyinka George | |
|---|---|
| 9th Governor of Ondo State | |
|
In office July 1988 – September 1990 |
|
| Preceded by | Raji Alagbe Rasaki |
| Succeeded by | Sunday Abiodun Olukoya |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 21, 1945 Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Political party | Military |
Olabode Ibiyinka George ("Bode George") is a Nigerian politician who became Military Governor of Ondo State, and later Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, then national vice-chairman in the southwest zone of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
George was born on November 21, 1945 in Lagos. He earned a B.Sc and MBA. Bode George became a Commodore in the Nigerian navy, and was appointed Military Governor of Ondo State (1988–1990). The African Concorde magazine reported that George treated the state budget as his own, spending lavishly and handing out inflated contracts in return for large kick-backs. In a July 2002 interview, Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu said Bode George needed to face a criminal tribunal over his activity in Ondo state. He said "Bode George and his fellow travellers who believe in military arbitrariness have to be told in clear terms that their time has passed, we are under democracy now." In response the PDP party Chairman, Alhaji Muhammed Muritala Ashorobi, said Bode George had an outstanding record as governor of old Ondo State, and the structures he built were key monuments. He established the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo by edict in 1990, a school that now has over 4,000 students. While governor, he was attacked at a ceremony in the University of Lagos (UNILAG), of which he is an alumnus.
He became Principal Staff Officer, to General Oladipo Diya when the latter was Chief of General Staff, between 1993 and 1997. George was also a Director at the Nigerian National War College (NWC).
George was appointed Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority in 1999. In February 2001, while visiting the Delta ports, Bode George called for increased security, and also discussed the problem of delays in payment of large sums of money owed to the port authority by organizations such as the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, Nigerian National Shipping Line, Delta Steel Company and Central Water Transport Company. In April 2001, George said that one of the causes of port congestion that importers were slow to clear their goods because of fear of seizure. In May 2001, Bode George called for construction of new dry ports and warehouses to tackle congestion. In September 2001, Chief Bode George directed that all empty containers should be moved out of the Lagos seaports to free up space. In July 2002, he appealed to Truck Owners striking over clearance of goods at the Lagos ports to go back to work.
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