LastProphet:


Any day you decide to stand up for the weak and maintain order in your world, you will suffer what America suffers. When you are even capable at it you will be called exactly the same names you are calling America. My friend this is the country that decided to have whites kill whites in order to end the slave trade of black people not of white people. Yes racism remains in some quarters but you dare not show your head openly otherwise other whites will be the first to mess you up. This is the country that elected a black president to the highest office on earth despite that voter population is almost 80% white! Didn't you hear that Obama's father's tribe are only 15000 in number in Kenya and can never hope to have any of them become president in Kenya? Didn't you hear recently that Madeleine Albright entered the US as a 15-year old teenager from her native Czechoslovakia and still made it to become Secretary of State? Can you do that in China? Russia? How many Nigerians that have traveled to Russia have been accepted as citizen there even if you stay 100 years? Does this look like the behaviour of a tyrant to you? So a tyrant allows immigrants enter their country t become secretary of State who are among the top people that shape the very foreign policy you complain about? America is not perfect yes just like no country is, but without them you would have seen pepper either under Hitler's rule or some very evil global tyrant. See I always tell people I wish we could try China or Russia for just 1 month as the leader of the world. You can even take a cue from how China treats debtors that can't repay loans. My brother always get more knowledge before going emotional on anyone

Kingsnairaland:
NATO fuelled fire and should be the one to extinguish it by stopping expansion and simply stating that Ukraine will never be a part of NATO to de-escalate the situation. Also, sanctions makes matters worse & will enrage Putin further. The idea is to de-escalate to save lives, not add fuel to fire. The U.S wants to prolong the war.

NATO obviously knew the consequences of their expansion and encircling Russia to threaten them. The U.S clearly provoked instability and chaos. While I’m against war, it’s important to understand the historical and geopolitical contexts that led to this in order to SAY NO TO THE PROVOCATION OF WAR and FOR WAR NOT TO REPEAT ITSELF. Putin sadly lost his patience after 15 years and took the U.S cunning bait.

It’s heart breaking Ukraine has been used by the U.S as a pawn and now cannon fodder to fight Russia on their behalf. The U.S has a track record of sponsoring colour revolutions/mayhem around the globe in the guise of democracy and a noble cause. The truth is they ONLY allow pro-American puppet regimes to exist. That’s the typical U.S imperialist playbook. Their greedy goal is money and global hegemony. Don’t forget they LIED in order to bomb Iraq and stole money and resources such as oil from the Middle East.

SADLY THE WINNERS ARE ALWAYS THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX WHO PROFIT BILLIONS from the GLOBAL ARMS TRADE. That’s a POWERFUL MOTIVATION TO FUEL FIRE and PROVOKE AGGRESSION and INSTABILITY AROUND THE GLOBE. Military arms prices have soared lately.

The U.S administration is using the same bait towards China. It’s media echo chambers are spreading their smear campaign against China to gain public consent for potential war with China and will use Taiwan as their cannon fodder. The non stop demonisation of China and Chinese people have caused rising brazen and deadly attacks against people of Chinese ethnicity. These politicians and it’s mainstream media are toxic with their influence to spread hate and division. It’s ironic that the U.S proclaims to hail human rights when they blatantly lied to illegally invade and killed many innocent civilians for over a decade. How can people still trust them is beyond me. They sure are superior at packaging themselves as the heroes and packaging countries they hate as villains.

Deputy1111:



https://www.sunnewsonline.com/why-nigerian-youths-should-consider-osinbajo-for-2023-presidency/

InvertedHammer:
/
Born and programmed eternally to be slaves.

All these slaves fighting for Tinubu and Osibanjo are people's grandfathers. Don't they have ambitions of their own? After Pa Lamidi Adedibu died in Ibadan, his much-touted dynasty and nuisance went with him. No mortal should ever be elevated to the height these SW politicians did to the Adedibu and Tinubu of this world.

/

GreyLaw:


If Nigeria faced half of what China, France or the UK faced, it would have stopped existing. Go and read the history of those countries. The only difference is that their citizens had the will power to make things work. Not only that, they have been inventing good stuff for the whole world.

On the other hand, in Nigeria, most politicians are thieves. There is zero will to move the country forward. Check America's history. These guys built coal energy, rails, etc. Nigeria had independence since 1960 and till date, over 60 years, yet no electric power.

Your faith in Nigeria is misplaced. I get it that we should be patriots. But Nigeria as it is has failed.

And Nigeria is not serious about changing. What stops a proper review of the constitution? What stops Nigeria abolishing state of origin and making it place or birth? Why were two criminals ex governors pardoned by the government? Why are there incessant killings?

Enjoy Nigeria, but some of us know the truth.

Excuzeme:


God bless your memory!
Tinubu will be a lesson to others in future, .who think they are all Powerful and try to play God.
He has No Choice than to eat his Vomit and go meet the Governors in Bagudu's Lair, that shows how desperate he is but it is not desperation that will make him President, it will only make his candidacy the more uninteresting.

Excuzeme:


Dont use your anger against any "nkupuru mmiri" as you put it,t against a fine gentleman like PYO.
I dont understand who is behind these mixing of issues, between Igbos that hate Tinubu, hate the entire SW o produce the next President, then put pitch Tinubu's and PYO's Camp against each other?

I have never heard Prof Osinbajo, thec urrent V.P of Nigeria, use a foul word, against Tinubu or his supporters but Tinubu has been calling PYO all sort of names and claiming "he made him".
That is very insulting.

Tinubu has also been urging-on his Supporters,, to keep repeating his false claim that PYO betrayed him.
This again, is another case of BLACKMAIL from a desperate Aspirant.

But Igbos are also playing a dirty game here!
They pretend to be supporting PYO by stoking the controversy between Tinubu and Osinbajo, hoping the fall-out will cripple APC candidates and hopefully benefit them in their quest to "clinch" the V.P position of the PDP, while hoping the Presidential Candidate of APC, whoever finally emerges, will be too crippled to win their PDP Candidate!

Calling someone a Judas, on Good Friday, just because he does not support your ambition or wants to vie for the same post you are interested in, and you being a Muslim, is an insult to all Christians, the same people you want to be President on.
When did a Corrupt Certificate forger like Tinubu become comparable to Jesus Christ and how did a man of impeccable Character like Prof. Osinbajo, become comparable to Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus?

I think Tinubu has FINALLY destroyed him own Presidential Ambition, at this point.

Sanchez01:
Tinubu is an insanely strong candidate but the one person who can stop him is Osinbajo, not because he has the political will to but because of some factors.

1. Buhari's preferred is not Tinubu. Some suspect the person to be Osinbajo.

2. Being an ethnoreligious society, the fact that Tinubu is a Muslim will dent his ambition quite good. With the "Islamisation" chant since Buhari rolled out and how it became obvious, Osinbajo will be popular among Christians. What's worse is that shopping for a Northern Christian candidate for Tinubu might be a serious challenge for him. The North would always prefer to shop for a Christian candidate in the South than in the North.

While Tinubu will pose a serious challenge even if he defects in the end, questions around his health, age and agility will be a serious factor to consider.

BlackBaron:
After serving under Tinubu and knowing his antecedents, seems Osinbajo, Amaechi and co are declaring for Presidency cos they know he doesn't mean well.

- A man that loves Nigeria would not pocket 10% of Lagos taxes. (Billions of Naira)

- Will not seek to foist cronies and family against the choice of millions in the SW

- Stole so much he can afford private jet and summon bullion vans without any verified conglomerate/operation/business.

Eriokanmi:
Traitor or not,Tinubu's supporters are too blind to know that Nigeria is a religiously sensitive country. A Muslim president is exiting and incoming one should be a luslim? Common . Those who think this doesn't matter should have their brains checked. Tinubu is not the only qualified aspirant amongst us. If he had ideas, he should assist any Christian candidate with such ideas. With the way things are going, they'd lose both ways

Excuzeme:


Tinubu started shaking in his Pants, the moment Osinbajo declared his intention to Contest.
The Question is: WHY is Tinubu Panicking?

As a self-acclaimed "King maker", Jagaban Borgu, Lion of Bourdillon, owner of APC Database, benefactor of anyone who is successful, etc, an Osinabjo without Political Structure and Experience, a small boy that Tinubu raised form the gutters of Mushin and fed with Rice and Cassava all his life, should not be a threat to his desperate ambition!

Or probably, Tinubu and his uncultured Supporters (most of the "educated ones" are not even different from that Motor park Tout and his NURTW members) are convinced that PYO is a superior candidate to Tinubu, his entry into the fray, has reduced Tinubu's chances to ZERO and the ONLY OPTION for Tinubu to stand any Chance, is to resort to SHAMELESS BLACKMAIL and ABUSE of Prof Osinbajo.

One of their attack Dogs is that "Envelope Journalist" called Kperog[/b]i, who has been[b] writing false, derogatory nonsense against PYO and trying to stir Religious Bigotry in Nigeria.

It is obvious to all Nigerians, except the few Urchins who are part fo the "Corrupt, Tinubu Cabal", that Nigeria and Nigerians will BENEFIT from an Osinabjo Presidency (and history of his performance as Acting President for just three months, bear this out), while a Tinubu President will just be a more of Corruption, aggrandisement and looting of State Coffers, as he has been doing to Lagos State Coffers.

God forbid another four years of a sickly greedy, corrupt and visionless Presidency like Tinubu
All these BLACKMAIL on Prof. Osinbajo will not work but rather backfire on Tinubu

kolnel:
lol
The two contestants are both exercising their constitutional rights.
Only the paid Tinubu touts and miscreants are the ones constituting a nuisance.
Everybody should wait till the end of May to see who wins the primary.
Tinubu has done a lot for the country, and he has also amassed illegal wealth.
This should not be a do-or-die affair.
Whoever is supporting Tinubu is just after his belly.
He is not the best Naija can offer right now.

Mooh247:



Only Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Rotimi Amaechi are serious with their consultation

7800 delegates from 774 Local Government, 36 States plus FCT would vote

3000 of the Delegates are Statutory delegates... Governors, ex Governors, Lawmakers, ex lawmakers, minister and commissioners

4800 delegates are party delegates


North West: 1, 924 delegates
South West: 1,568 delegates
North Central: 1,278 delegates
North East: 1, 212 delegates.
South East: 838 delegates.
South south 927 delegates.
Total = 7,800 Delegates



.

Starz825:
Omoo
I don't know why this sounds so funny ..

Woman is married to an Ondo man...
Ondo man became governor of his State...
Wife automatically becomes the first lady of Ondo state...
Now the woman feels the next line of action since her hubby's tenure as governor will be over soon is to return to her state for a senatorial seat....

I thought they said in ibo land, once a woman is married, she doesn't have right to come back and claim anything...well that's traditional right Sha..

This one na political right...
Crazy country...

nitapam:
Very desperate
Very wicked

This Useless stinking Old Man wants to employ 50million youths to the Army and feed them with Cassava and Àgbado'

Someone who single handedly pick his puppets as Lagos governor and deny them when they fail to remit public funds to his account can not rule Nigeria

He suffers from Parkinson disease, he will spend 180 days in a year in London receiving treatment


Someone who has never for once speak out against FULANI terrorists killing his people

Someone who milks Lagos dry and feed fat from the taxes

I'm Yoruba but Tinubu will likely be worse than Buhari.

Osinbajo, Peter OBI, Amaechi is better in my opinion

Atiku is a NO NO

roholi:
Tilumbu is the greatest Back -Stabber of our Time

Tinubu stabbed the Late Sen Wahab Dosunmu at the back when they all were planning how to relaunch thier political careers during Abdusalami Abubakar's regime.

Tinubu made it known to Sen Dosunnu and other NADECO lieutenants in London that he would go back to the Senate in 1999. He got to Nigeria ahead of the elder states men like Sen Dosunmu, Baba Jide Sawyerr and planned along with Baba Ganiyu Daodu, Abraham Adesanya and Ayo Adebanjo (whom he met on ground the progressive train back in Lagos).

He later stabbed all these men at the back and ensured Afenifere was scuttled. Today Ayo Adebanjo, Supo Sonibare (all key Afenifere elders then) aren't in the same boat with Tinubu cos of the way he used his ambition to scatter the Yoruba socio-cultural group. He went ahead to create fund Afeninfere Renewal Group (ARG) using the late Yinka Odunmakin and Co.

I'll recommend the late Sen Wahab Dosunmu's book for more clarifications abeg!

These men late and alive didn't lay claim to grooming or helping with the platform for Ashiwaju to rise to political stardom. They clearly avoided his political family.
History is about to repeat itself. Tibubu is on the verge of being served the same dose he served those elder statesmen then.

History is rich and it would do us a lot of justice if we get details about how certain events came to being. Make una let Osinbajo be.


He's a betrayer and a traitor. He betrayed the entire Yoruba tribe. Due to his ambition of becoming the president, he said nothing about the killing of the Yorubas by the Fulani terrorists. The good people of Yoruba tribe helplessly ran to faraway Benin republic and Cote D'Ivoire to seek succour , yet still, Tinubu refused to comment on it or lend a helping hands to his own people but ran to Zamfara and donate 50million to victims of terrorists attack.

aviara:
Which other big politician can the southwest boast of aside Tinubu. This monopoly will cost the southwest in the years ahead. Tinubu has been busy building his selfish political empire to achieve his personal selfish ambition. What transformation has his influence brought to southwest region apart from just taking over power. Poverty still ravages most of the south west states. Most of the wealth on the state are controlled by non indigene. Is this the type of political style that should be celebrated?

aviara:
You wrote all this long epistle to market a very corrupt Tinubu. What a pity. Tinubu has not done anything phenomenal in govt. The IGR Lagos is making are made through wicked means which impoverish the citizens of Lagos. Tinubu careless about the burden of how the monies are generated. All governors can equally begin such wicked system to rake in high IGR. But leadership is suppose to make life easy for the people and not the other way round. Take for instance levies and taxies transporters pay to agberos in Lagos. Sometimes, the transporters end going home with nothing.

UncommonLogic:
This should be a conclusion on who should bear the Presidential ticket of APC or PDP; No sentiments:

THE POLITICAL REALITY OF 2023 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: THE LIMITS OF SENTIMENTS, THE PETER PRINCIPLE, AND A SAINTLY CROOK.

By: Dr Yemi Adewoyin

Politics is a business, and in business, you don't dwell (too much) on emotions and sentiments to succeed. If political parties make their decisions based entirely on how loud some arguments (emotional, sentimental and sometimes illogical) on the social media are, then we may as well go sit down and wait for Prof. Yemi Osinbajo or Mr. Peter Obi to be sworn-in as the next President of Nigeria in 2023. Not that Nigeria doesn't deserve a younger, virile and intelligent President, but the candidates for that office must justify that they are heavyweights and the strongest their parties can present. Meanwhile, a 65 year old Prof. is not a young man! You don't aim to win the world cup with a junior team when your opponents are bringing their best and most experienced 11. The 2023 context is a straight fight between SENATOR BOLA TINUBU AND ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR. Any party that presents anyone else as its flag bearer would have lost before the election day.

The PDP wants to return to power while the APC aims to retain its position, both, by any means possible. A Peter Obi candidature cannot sell beyond Anambra and among migrant Igbo in other parts of Nigeria. He may be lucky to have some pockets of support from other Southeast States. He is largely unknown by the grassroot voters in the North and Southwest. Senator Pius Anyim, the other confirmed candidate from the Southeast on the PDP ticket is from Ebonyi State. As trending on the social media, if you don't gerrit, forget it! Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is larger than life. He is loved by the Igbo voters, perhaps more than their own politicians. He knows this. His party knows as well. To underscore the love, the most vociferous supporter of the call for a Biafra country among the Igbo political class, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, was the first to endorse Atiku for the PDP ticket. PDP would be shooting itself in the leg by going for a less popular candidate.

Can the Starboy and the highly efficient incumbent Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, match Atiku in the presidential context? Except in the realm of sentiments and emotions, the answer is no. Is he competent? That, to me, is relative. Contextualizing that would take us to a theory in human resources management; the Peter Principle (Peter and Hull, 1969). The theory is about promoting an excellent staff beyond their level of competence simply because they are next in line for a promotion and have done well in their current office. To illustrate, a bank has an Executive Director (Operations) as the most senior behind the MD. If you have had a dealing with a bank operations staff concerning policies, procedures and following orders (instructions) at a branch level, then imagine what an ED Operations embodies. This hypothetical bank is interested in growing its balance sheet with fresh business deals that would entail some compromise here and there without deviating too much from policies. Promoting the ED to becoming the MD will not achieve that goal because of his lack of people skill and rigidity with rules and regulations. Banks would rather go for an excellent marketer with top-notch social skills, ability to think outside the box and clout for independent decision-making. Ever wondered why many excellent technical people never made CEO? They function very well when told what to do. Their ingenuity is in how to do it, not in the conception. We have only seen Osinbajo follow a blueprint, he may also be eminently competent to conceive ideas and lead the implementation but it would be a gamble and I don't see the APC taking him, no matter the emotions on the social media.

Senator Bola Tinubu, on the other hand, has shown competence in leadership. He draws plans and identifies talents, without ethnic, religious or academic sentiments, to implement the plans. It's only if one wants to belittle an elephant that one says an object passed-by swiftly and briefly, Tinubu is in a class of his own. Among the current political class, Tinubu is unrivalled in his political achievements, development legacies, capacity building, and commitment to helping others and lifting people out of poverty. Aside Atiku, Tinubu is the only other name that's known in the grassroots. While others are busy making TV appearances and theorizing on what they know little about, he was on the road across the length and breath of Nigeria checking the bridges he had built in the past and building new ones. He is intentional and not accidental in wanting to be the President. That means someone who has researched the issues and identified practical options, not textbook answers, for solving them. We are daily inundated with claims that he has pocketed Lagos and is milking the State dry. None of that has been substantiated. The "public court" finds him guilty of massive embezzlement and yet, 15 years after leaving office and without immunity from any form of prosecution, no state institution has found him culpable of anything, whether in office or post-office. That suggests he is clean or a crook who knows how to cover his tracks? So laughable.

Choosing between Atiku and Tinubu is not a difficult choice for me. We saw what both of them did in office. In the context of the foregoing, the choice is between history (past) and the future. The dream is big, the expectations are enormous and the hopes for a new Nigeria, re-engineered from within the political class by a different kind of politician, are sky high. The last time we felt anything close to getting it right was with MKO Abiola. Hope 93 was dashed. Before then, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was defeated on legal technicalities of what constituted 12 and two-thirds of 19 states. I am proudly Nigerian, I believe in Nigeria and I know we shall be great again!

Dr. Yemi Adewoyin
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aviara:
Tinubu downfall has already started because some of his trusted allies are already developing guts to dare him as was seen in Aregbesola and now Osibanjo. This is the pattern every strong empire that collapsed followed. Its called implosion. It won't be too long Tinubu will be demystified

ChoCho54:
Which politician in Nigeria today still have their hands fully deep in the state's Treasury like Tinubu, from government to government since he left office?
Yes it's intellectual prowess, same thing yahoo boys use in scamming their victims.

ChoCho54:
But Igbo made a sitting VP Japa.

@, Topic, either tinubu or osunbande should please come forward to tell us when their relationship soured because nobody saw it coming.
Not even the eagle eyed press.

With the way tinubu jumped into his campaign train, it's evident he was in a haste to secure turf before someone else imminently did.

Na wetin dey quarrel papa and pikin?

Osunbande made sure tinubu stayed out of jail during his trials.

Most of tinubus thievery of Lagos patrimony is backed by laws and osunbande oversaw them all.

Could they have fallen out soon after osunbande assumed office because Aso rock became the new mecca and Bourdillon became jealous?

Did Tinubu consult the sitting VP his son about his presidential ambition? Did son tell his daddy he wanted a shot too?

What was the outcome? Dem shout Abi Dem exchange blows? Who else was present?

Kilo sele gangangan

Excuzeme:




To further buttress your Position, let me address some of the things the writer of the Article has claimed:

STRUCTURE: There was a time that Tinubu use to "boast" that he has the structure of APC and their "Database" firmly in his House!
Well, by a single stroke of magic, PMB rubbished his so-called Database and asked every member of APC to RE-REGISTER, thereby creating a New Database that is firmly in Buhari's hand. Even Tinubu, to the chagrin of everyone in APC, had to queue up to register as a New Member of APC, That is very humbling.

LOYALTY of APC members: This was first exemplified, when PMB removed Adams Oshiomole, a suspected loyal of Tinubu, from the Chairmanship of APC and imposed Bunni, a Northerner.
Then came the Edo election when Tinubu gave the "Order" that APC should be voted. Again, Edo which is a loyal APC state, simply rebuffed Tinubu's instruction, in their famous "Edo nor be Lagos" matra.
Again, this also played out in the recent APC Convention! Tinubu had his "list" of who should occupy where but PMB came-in and all that just fizzled out. EVERYONE at the Convention, simply lined up behind PMB's Choice. Tinubu was humbled.

We should not also forget that,despite Tinubu's attempt to use large sums of money to buy the Loyalty of Northerners, they simply will follow what "One of their own In-Power" says. That is How Northerners roll, as in "Rankah-dede mentality" and everyone will fall in-line.
Tinubu wont get the Loyalty he is hoping for, from these dudes.

The V.P Effect: Osinbajo has worked closely with PMB and in PMB's circle, Osinbajo is far more trusted and predictable, than Tinubu.

Age: Tinubu is credited with falsifying his age, going by the age of his deceased wife (when she died), the Age of his Junior SIster's Son (his Cousin who he imposed as Osun State Governor, Oyetola) and so, his recent health Challenges are normal for a very old person, irrespective of the "Official Age" he is putting forward. A lot of people beleive Nigeria does not need another sickly President who will spend out Forex on Medical Tourism, will be absent from work for most of the time, while his "Cabals" will be th one running the show, from behind the Curtains. Nigerians have learned.

But as long a APC is concerned, PMB once said that "somebody (Tinubu) cannot be sitting in Lagos and be telling us what to do. In annoyance, when PMB went to Lagos to open the Railway Terminus in Lagos Mainland, TInubu refused to attend such a joyous event, he rather slighted PMB by sending his Daughter! If we know PMB at all, we know he doe snot forgive such public slight.

Going by what happened at the recent APC Convention, dont be surprised that all the Senators and Political heavey Weights hobnobbing with Tinubu right now, will simply disappear on the day of choosing the APC Nominee and line up behind whoever PMB prefers.
Tinubu will only go home to sulk, afterwards.

Finally, in a sane society. if the contest in between Tinubu and Prof. Osinbajo, it should be a "No-Contest" because Osinbajo dwarfs Tinubu in all the critical areas that a Nigerian Leader, a leader who should take Nigeria into the digital age, should posses.
he is young, agile, healthy, experienced on the job at the highest level, (as VP), his Pedigree over the years, as we can see from his Resumee, is astounding!

But Nigeria is not a sane Society otherwise, someone who obviously has falsified his age, someone reputed to have Doctored Academic qualifications (Toronto Certificate), someone who is stealing the coffers of Lagos State dry, someone who has turned Yoruba Youths into "lazy, unproductive, Street Urchins" (a.ka. Agberoo, Area Boys, Election Thugs) so much so that they have sold all the Properties their Parents laboured for and left for them, to fund their Drug addiction, someone who is an Addict himself, someone who uses Violence to intimidate and kill opponents so he can win elections .... should not be anywhere near contesting for the President of Nigeria,

Whether Nigerians will reject God-fatherism, reject Poverty, reject "Generational Imposition of Political Posts", reject "Baba'sope" and embrace "Oto'gee", reject corrupt and extremely Greedy Political Leaders, whether Nigerians would reject "Killers-in-Power" ....

Or whether they will want to continue their poverty and under-development by voting those who have turned the South West Politics into a family affair to further enrich their own "Bullion Vans", time will tell.

Aufbauh:
Seriously I don't know why people can't decode that Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was the 'closet candidate' of PMB.

The gut & courage of Osinbajo to openly challenge his erstwhile benefactor can only be motivated by a mortal superior power backing, who is Mr. President.
No one else could have prompted him out for this challenge, not even an audible voice from God. This is why Osinbajo shouldn't be underrated in this contest.

It is also important to note that the political dynamics of 2023 will be entirely different from 2019. This time around PMB will be interested in who succeeds him. He has already shown that through the election of the APC national executives.

The Nigeria leadership factor shouldn't be wished away. We've already concluded that all Nigeria politicians are the same so, PMB may equally be tempted to play god. That means that PMB to a large extent he'll play pertinent role in who emerges. We should not also forget that he will still remain the president after the primaries for couple of months, so it'll be extremely difficult for governors especially from the north to go against his wish.

Again much is always said about political structure but we shouldn't forget that 'structure' can be built, inherited and bought.

Conclusively this is politics and anything can happen to change the balance of power. One meeting of like minds with Mr President can send BAT to oblivion.

"Absolute power does not only corrupt but attract the corruptible"- Frank Herbert

hnm2023:
Since his emergence as Nigeria’s number-two citizen, different accounts had been flying around on how Professor Yemi Osinbajo, actually secured the coveted vice-presidential slot, a majority of which revolved around the person of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, his former boss. Indeed, the recent revelation by Chief Bisi Akande in his book, “My Participations” was equally slanted to further pin down the narrative.

You may recall that in 2016, Professor John Paden, authored a biography, ‘Muhammadu Buhari: The Challenges of leadership in Nigeria’, where he dismissed speculations that Tinubu, influenced the emergence of Osinbajo as Buhari’s running mate, but contended that Buhari, instead, chose Osinbajo despite a lot of pressure from Tinubu, who was interested in the position. That book raised a lot of dust and as expected, Tinubu’s soldiers went for the professor.

But, regardless of whichever version you must have read or heard, what you are about to read now is the untold story of how Professor Osinbajo, became Buhari’s running mate and eventually, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It happened that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was almost running against the deadline for the submission of names of its candidates ahead of the 2015 presidential election. There was no debate about its presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, who had emerged at a convention held in Lagos in December of 2014. But the party had been held hostage on its choice for the running mate.

In the forefront of the confusion that had ensued as a result was Tinubu, who didn’t hide his desire to fill the slot. He hinged this on the understanding he allegedly had with Buhari in the early days of their proposed alliance, before the merger that eventually culminated in the formation of the APC, now boasting several other tendencies.

With a bigger house made possible by what was known as the ‘legacy parties’ and other individuals, who championed the change movement, a Muslim/Muslim ticket had become arguably impracticable.

This much was canvassed by a majority of the actors with stakes in the party, especially, with the increasing attacks from the Boko Haram terrorist group. They had considered a Muslim/Muslim ticket a very hard sell.

However, with 24 hours to deadline for submission of names, coupled with the fact that Tinubu had made a smooth choice of a running mate nearly impossible, including the fact that he was made to chair a selection committee, which failed to fly, because of his vested interest, Buhari then decided to take the bull by the horn, being the candidate.

While the underhand intrigues subsisted, Buhari had set up a team of some persons, including a former governor of Zamfara State, Abdul-Aziz Yari; former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki; incumbent Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal and his predecessor, Magatakarda Wamakko, amongst others to shortlist names of likely candidates for him, from the South.

Interestingly, it seemed there was a consensus that with the role of the Southwest, the running mate must come from the zone, reason other interested folks from other parts of the country could not fly.

The committee had completed its work and submitted a list of three names to Buhari. First on the list is a former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, followed by Senator Olorunimbe Mamora and third, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. Please, follow the trend and how Osinbajo’s name first featured in the 2015 theatrics.

Armed with the list and wary of the deadline staring him in the face, Buhari left for Tinubu’s house in Abuja, first to explain that a Muslim/Muslim ticket was not going to fly, meaning he would be unable to run with him and that in the alternative, he (Tinubu) could recommend anyone from the list to him as his preferred choice for the slot. At least, he thought it was okay to do him that honour.

Unfortunately, Tinubu didn’t receive the news well and flared up so bad that he was alleged to have engaged in war of words with Buhari, who stormed out of his house, after Tinubu had insinuated betrayal. Amongst those in Tinubu’s house at the time were Chief Bisi Akande, Rauf Aregbesola and Adams Oshiomhole. But only Oshiomhole walked Buhari to his car as he made to leave the house.

From Tinubu’s house, Buhari stopped over at the home of a former governor from the Southern part of the country and told him all that transpired, and went back home – angry and disappointed.

Getting home, he sent for Saraki and when the former Senate President got to his place, he narrated what happened and the embarrassment meted out to him, saying if Tinubu wanted a fight, he was ready and he would give it back in full dose.

But Saraki pleaded with him that it was too early and that the situation was not what they couldn’t manage well before the elections. Saraki immediately contacted a former Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and hinted him that there was fire on the mountain and that he needed to come around to join forces with him to manage the situation. Amosun left his home in Abeokuta, first for Lagos and then Abuja, and straight to Buhari’s home.

Thus, when he got there, he was intimated with all that had happened, but he was particularly worried about deadline and pleaded with Buhari to let him take it over from there. So, he left for Tinubu’s place to close the deal.

By the time he got to Tinubu’s residence, Oshiomhole had left but still with him were Baba Akande and Ogbeni Aregbesola. Typical of Amosun, who would not waste time on anything, he told Tinubu that Buhari’s mind was already made up, but that he should decide now, who he wanted as the running mate, at least, that only the individual he chose would be presented to Buhari and not give him the pleasure of choosing from a list.

Still angry and disappointed, the first person Tinubu suggested in that rage was Oshiomhole. But as if planned, there was almost a unanimous opposition from everyone in the room. Then, Aregbesola suggested Osinbajo and he (Tinubu) opposed it, saying Osinbajo was one of those, who campaigned against a Muslim/Muslim ticket and must therefore not benefit from it.

Now, let’s digress a bit. Tinubu’s anger against Osinbanjo was this. The former Lagos governor had set up a team of persons close to him to ponder the Muslim/Muslim idea and the best way to push it forward. Those on the team included Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyom, Mr. Wale Edun, Mr. Dele Alake and Mr. Dapo Thomas. The team met regularly at a private Guest House on the Island, Ikoyi to be precise.

But Osinbajo had during one of their meetings said pointedly that there was no way he would defend a Muslim/Muslim ticket in good conscience especially, with the state of security in the country. He asked on what account would he go back to his family and say he was part of such a decision? Of course, Tinubu got a feedback from the team and held it against him, even though Osinbajo didn’t mean any harm.

Therefore, at the mention of Osinbajo, he revolted almost instantly. But he needed to give a name and time was fast going before deadline. So, he asked to see the list brought by Buhari and on sighting it, he said, “Okay, let’s run with Oyinlola.” To that too, Baba Akande protested and it was back to square one.

Again, Aregbesola prevailed and contended that, like it or not, Osinbajo remained a member of Tinubu’s political family and therefore, still his best bet. After a few minutes of grumbling, he reluctantly agreed to Osinbajo. And Amosun asked him repeatedly if it was a deal and he responded in the affirmative. Final answer kind of thing! Mamora was not even to be considered as far as Tinubu was concerned. Those who know Lagos politics would understand why.

When he finally agreed to Osinbajo, Aregbesola even pleaded to be given the honour of being the person to break the news to Osinbajo. But Amosun didn’t have the patience to acquiesce to that request. For him, time was of the essence and that assignment was handled business-like. Therefore, how Baba Akande handed them a note with Osinbajo’s name and ordered them to Buhari is still a mirage. Besides, Aregbesola did not go with him.

Anyway, in the presence of all, Amosun made a call to Osinbajo to ask, where he was and that a plane would be sent to convey him now to Abuja. But, incidentally, Osinbajo replied that he was in Abuja already, because he had a case at the Supreme Court.

Great, everything seemed to be working together for good, he reckoned. Then asked him to come immediately to Ogun House in Abuja, and when he arrived, he first congratulated him saying, “You’re the next vice-president of Nigeria.”

With a confounding gaze, he conveyed him in his (Amosun’s) car and drove straight to Buhari’s house, with Kemi Adeosun, former Minister of Finance, sitting in front of the car.

Getting to the candidate’s residence, Amosun asked Osinbajo to wait downstairs, while he went upstairs to see the president and told Buhari: “I have him sir,” and Buhari asked: “Who?” and he replied: “Your running mate”.

The APC candidate then came downstairs, where he first met with Osinbajo for the first time as introduced to him by Amosun and immediately, ushered them to a sitting area in the kitchen, where his nomination form was filled in a hurry.

Osinbajo, filling his form in Buhari’s dinning area, was guided by Mrs. Adeosun, Amosun and Sarki Abba, one of Buhari’s domestic staff, to hasten up the process. Buhari, too, was there watching them complete the process.

This is why for those, who know the story, how Osinbajo later turned out to be Amosun’s enemy remains a mystery to them. But with this insider picture of how Osinbajo ‘walked from Lagos to Abuja’, readers can now decide by themselves, the person, who actually made Osinbajo the vice president. To do this, however, five centres must be factored into account.

The first is the team set up by Buhari, which included him amongst the three potential candidates. The second is Aregbesola, who consistently mentioned him until it was approved. The third is Tinubu, who reluctantly agreed to his choice, without which they probably would have been unable o move on.

The fourth was Amosun, who had to run a major and serious race from Abeokuta to Lagos and Abuja to make sure that phase in the life of APC was closed. The fifth and most important is Buhari himself. He could have rejected him if he wanted to. After all, he was going to be working with him and definitely should have a say in the choice of his partner.

But if you asked this writer, no one person made Osinbajo vice president. The coming together of everyone as designed by God did the job. Therefore, no one person can claim the glory. This, in a nutshell, is the story of Osinbajo’s journey to the seat of power, Abuja.

All the additions and facts deliberately mutilated by Baba Akande are curious. But, it is understandable. Above all, if you are in doubt, many names are mentioned here as witnesses to the journey, you can check with them all.

Written by
Olawale Olaleye

Promoted by Higher Nigeria Movement

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NaijaNaWaa:
Army, Navy, Air force, Police, Civil Defence, Road Safety... now, Peace Corps... yet, corpse everywhere you turn.

Another corruption centre is born.

Aufbauh:
Let's not make a meal out of a molehill.

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo declaring to vie for the position of the President is NOT a betrayal. Loyalty is not foolishness. It's myopic to think it so. I don't buy into this thought pattern.
May the young and capable of the Men who can move Nigeria forward WIN.

Every man has a story and comes from somewhere so Osinbajo case won't be different.

JohnBullMySon:
Tinubu has shown all the signs of a bad leader. Are we operating on monarchy or democracy where anybody can run for president?

Poor leader banking on petty sentiments and emotional BS about loyalty and influence to become president as if he deserves it more. He'll just be clueless and average like Buhari.

I don't care who wins this election as long as Atiku and Tinubu lose the flag of their respective parties. It is not about you or your life ambitions but about Nigerians welfare.

michresakidjo:
Putin is the only surviving child of his parents. Maybe that better explain why he acts the way he does. Paranoid...... schizophrenia... Hallucinatory thoughts all explain why he feels everyone is against him. Putin should rest. All dictators dead or alive seems to have something in common...insecurity. Mao Zedong... ohhhh he was a hell of one. And a serial womanizer. Hitler... Goebbel... Stalin.. Pol phut.... When you act wickedly with no respect for humanity then your own fear of being harm is natural curse that leads to utter destruction irremediably. Stalin died of acute stroke caused by fear. Live and let live. All man journey ends with Six feet and never forgets that whatever you do the creator will judge you accordingly. He is not Buhari. No favoritism.

LeoDeKing:
Emeka cooks Meth and sells to shinedu, when Emeka is arrested, both Emeka and shinedu starts screaming fulani herdsmen.