₦airaland Forum

By Temidayo Akinsuyi

The refusal of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to take a definite stand on his rumoured presidential ambition in 2023 despite the declaration by his benefactor, former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is the reason many people in the South-West chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are accusing him of alleged betrayal.

Tinubu, national leader of the APC, informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his decision to run for the office of president in 2023 last month.

While describing his desire to become the president as “a lifelong ambition”, he also dispelled the insinuation that as a kingmaker who has installed kings, he cannot become a king himself.
However, in spite of Tinubu’s declaration and consultations, some of his longtime associates have come out to publicly endorse Osinbajo as their choice even though he (Osinbajo) is yet to officially declare interest in the race.

Despite repeated calls on him to run in 2023 by several groups across the country, Osinbajo had said he is focused on his job now as vice president and will decide on whether he is going to contest at the appropriate time.

Speaking with Daily Independent on Sunday, an associate of Tinubu, who was also a commissioner in Lagos from 1999 to 2007 during which period Osinbajo also served as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, said many of those who worked with Tinubu during his tenue as governor are watching Osinbajo’s moves with keen interests and may issue a joint statement in the coming days.

According to the APC chieftain, who asked not to be named, the general belief amongst them before was that Osinbajo will not dare contest against Tinubu who nominated him for the position of vice president but recent events are pointing in a different direction.

“I don’t have anything to say now because Yemi (Osinbajo) has not come out to say he is running.

"However, many groups have been canvassing for him and some are even attacking Asiwaju in the media, saying he is too old and that he is a kingmaker who shouldn’t be king".

"I noticed he did not stop any of those canvassing support for him. He only asked them not to abuse Asiwaju.

" I have also read many of Asiwaju’s loyalists accusing Osinbajo of betrayal. My position for now is that you can’t accuse him of being a traitor yet because he has not publicly come out to say I am running for presidency in 2023 on APC ticket.

“I have also seen many APC chieftains like Senators Sola Adeyeye and Babafemi Ojudu saying that they are backing Osinbajo in 2023 despite the fact that Asiwaju has expressed desire to run".

" I then begin to wonder, is there something that he (Osinbajo) has told them that is giving them the confidence? “Has the president informed him that he wants him as his successor, maybe in order to continue with his programmes? I also don’t have a clue to that".

"But it is clear as daylight that something is giving those canvassing support for Osinbajo assurance that he will run in 2023".

“I’m in touch with some of my colleagues who were part of Asiwaju’s team during his tenure as governor. In fact, we have a platform that we all shared and the general impression is that this tension would have been doused if Osinbajo has taken a categorical position since his former boss has indicated interest in contesting for the presidency”.


When asked who is more qualified to be president between a former governor and a sitting vice president, he said Osinbajo couldn’t have become the vice president today if not for the fact that Tinubu nominated him for the position.

“Let’s get something clear. Asiwaju is the potential running mate to President Buhari in the 2015 presidential election given his status as a former governor and the role he played in the merger that birthed the APC.

"The only issue that many kicked against then was the idea of a Muslim-Muslim ticket which many stakeholders in the party feared Nigerians may not accept".


Asiwaju was given the option of nominating one of his loyalists who is a Christian and he nominated Osinbajo.

I still remembered the reactions of many Nigerians then when Osinbajo’s name was announced as running mate to Buhari.

Even Buhari didn’t really know him and that was why he had issues pronouncing his name during the campaign then.

So, Osinbajo is my brother but even he himself cannot say because he is vice president now, he is superior to Asiwaju whose highest political office till date is governor. “So, like I said, many of us who served under Asiwaju, including Osinbajo, are still one big family and we will not allow any wedge among us. But the ball is in Osinbajo’s court. His decision at this stage is very crucial and it will shape the future of things to come”, he said.

When our correspondent also contacted a senior lawyer who is also an associate of the vice president, he said those thinking that Osinbajo will not contest because of perceived loyalty to Tinubu are in for a shocker in the coming days.

He categorically stated that Osinbajo is running for presidency in 2023, adding that it was because of his popularity that those in Tinubu’s camp are accusing him of betrayal.

He said, “Osinbajo is running, there is no doubt about it and it is because of his popularity that the Tinubu camp starts this blackmail of ‘betrayal’, the same way they bullied Fayemi into a seeming submission. But they are in for a shocker”.

https://independent.ng/2023-presidency-why-tinubus-camp-is-accusing-osinbajo-of-betrayal/

I don't want Man of the 'Pee Poo' as my president in 2023

In my opinion, this in fighting might cause them the ticket. With these formidable candidates waiting around the corner

These people want to still lack conscience and contest after what Nigerians has passed through in their hands... May God shame all these greedy folks

Those two clowns won't even near APC ticket Las las

Moyinoluwa35:
So am back again..What can 2k do for you ? gonna pick two lucky winnerS

to feed,I'm really broke!

Lol.
So the supporters of Jagaban (the one and only man of the "pee-poo" are afraid of another candidate that has not even said he is contesting?
Hahahahahaha.
So Jagaban and his followers are afraid if Osibanjo and already calling him a traitor?
I thought a Kingmaker should be able to make himself king irrespective of another contestant.
Before this year ends, the yeye old man of the pee-poo will realise that his political gra-gra starts and ends in Lagos where the gullible Lagosians allow him hold sway.
Our mumu don do.

nairavsdollars:
I don't want Man of the 'Pee Poo' as my president in 2023

Same here

Betrayers accusing themselves of betrayal.

Truthisunique2:
Those two clowns won't even near APC ticket Las las

APC ticket is meant for your village people right

Let the man with good intentions from the south succeed

Moyinoluwa35:
So am back again..What can 2k do for you ? gonna pick two lucky winnerS

l can repair my bike with it. It has been doing had starting since, some times l had to push. Really needs servicing.. Thank you!!

How does osibanjo contesting for presidency amount to betrayal or does osibanjo not know that him not running amounts to betraying good Nigerians who believes and trust in him. I want to believe tinubu nominated him cos of his competence.


Let him and tinubu do a public debate so that we will know who has better ideas instead of all this black mail. Its unfortunate that tinubu is afraid of osibanjo if not he won't be bothered about the ambition of the VP.

Osinbajo will pick loyalty to Buhari than Tinubu if asked to choose

nzeobi:
How does osibanjo contesting for presidency amount to betrayal. I want to believe tinubu nominated him cos of his competence.


Let him and tinubu do a public debate so that we will know who has better ideas instead of all this black mail. Its unfortunate that tinubu is afraid of osibanjo if not he won't be bothered about the ambition of the VP.