The Life and Career of Olabode Ibiyinka George

Olabode Ibiyinka George, commonly known as Bode George, was born on 21 November 1945. He is a prominent Nigerian politician who once served as the Military Governor of Ondo State. He later became the Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and held the position of National Vice-Chairman in the southwest zone of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Early Life and Education
George was born in Lagos on November 21, 1945. He holds both a B.Sc. and an MBA. He rose through the ranks in the Nigerian Navy to become a Commodore and served as the Military Governor of Ondo State from 1988 to 1990.

Controversy and Governance
In a July 2002 interview, Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu suggested that Bode George should face a criminal tribunal over his activities in Ondo State. However, the PDP Chairman at the time, Alhaji Muhammed Muritala Ashorobi, defended George, highlighting his accomplishments as governor, including the establishment of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, by edict in 1990.

George later served as the Principal Staff Officer to General Oladipo Diya, Chief of General Staff, from 1993 to 1997. He was also a Director at the Nigerian National War College.

Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority
In 1999, George was appointed Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority. During his tenure, he addressed issues such as port congestion and security. He advocated for the construction of new dry ports and warehouses and pushed for better management practices at the NPA. His tenure ended in October 2003 when the senior management and board of the NPA were dismissed, and an audit uncovered irregularities, leading to investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Roles in the PDP
Close to President Olusegun Obasanjo, George was influential within the PDP. He held various leadership roles, including National Vice-Chairman in the southwest zone, Deputy National Chairman (South), and later National Deputy Chairman of the PDP. His political career was marked by various controversies, including accusations of favoritism and internal party disputes.

Legal Troubles
In April 2005, George threatened legal action over allegations of an N85 billion scam at the NPA. Although initially shielded from prosecution, the EFCC eventually indicted him on charges of fraud at the NPA. In August 2008, George was arrested and arraigned on a 163-count charge, later reduced to 63 counts. In October 2009, he was found guilty and sentenced to 30 months in prison. However, in December 2013, the Supreme Court discharged his conviction, ruling that the EFCC had no evidence of intent to commit fraud.

George's life and career have been characterized by his significant contributions to Nigerian politics, as well as the legal challenges he faced in later years.