VICE PRESIDENT OSINBAJO READY TO FIGHT TINUBU OVER 2023 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, AFTER SNUBBED HIM IN LONDON
This report has it that Vice President YEMI OSINBAJO is currently at loggerheads with his once political master and former Lagos State Governor, BOLA AHMED TINUBU over their 2023 presidential ambitions.
BraveViews gathered that trouble began during his birthday in March 2020 when Governor ABDULLAHI SULE of Nasarawa State, who delivered an address on behalf of the APC Progressives Governors Forum, hinted that OSINBAJO is a good candidate to succeed Buhari.
Again, another strong indications that OSINBAJO may part ways with TINUBU emerged, when TINUBU snubbed the Vice President, YEMI OSINBAJO in London, when the VP visited while he was on medical vacation for about three months.
Brave Views gathered that after the London incident, OSINBAJO is now set to fight the presidential battle of his life.
Following the London episode, where he was snubbed by the former Governor of Lagos State,
our checks revealed that OSINBAJO has now been left with no other option than to throw his hat into the ring.
No fewer than 30 politicians, including President Muhammadu Buhari, Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Umar Ganduje (Kano) among others visited TINUBU in London, where the
two-term governor of Lagos State, whose health was a subject of controversy was reported to have undergone knee surgery before returning to Nigeria earlier this month.
The northern caucus in the House of Representatives, led by Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Wase also visited the APC national leader in London.
However, a source close to Osinbajo, disclosed that TINUBU snubbed the Vice President during his medical vacation in London.
The source explained that: “Essentially, OSINBAJO arrived London to attend a conference and then, to see TINUBU. As he arrived, he was supposed to see TINUBU the next morning but TINUBU left town by 6 a.m. the next morning to avoid seeing him.
“Even ADEBOYE (General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor ENOCH ADEBOYE) had arrived a day earlier and they planned to see TINUBU”.
“TINUBU has ramped up his campaign and OSINBAJO also wants to be president and both cannot be president (at the same time).
Again, the source explained: “So, now the die is cast for the battle of his life. He has not decided to run but a lot of people are mobilising him to run”.
Meanwhile, a source close to TINUBU said the former governor of Lagos State had been in London for two and a half months, arguing that if OSINBAJO wanted to come and see him, he had enough time.
“The president came to see Asiwaju; other leaders came; OSINBAJO did not come. If OSINBAJO had wanted to come, he had enough time to do so. TINUBU wanted to return because he wanted to avoid the crowd in Lagos. And he returned when he did”.
OSINBAJO’s supporters, under the aegis of the Progressives Consolidation Group (PCG) is the first and only support group that has received the approval of the APC to canvass support for the emergence of the VP, as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 presidential election.
The approval was contained in a letter titled, ‘Letter of Recognition as a Support Group,’ dated October 4, 2021 and signed by the Director of Administration of the APC, Alhaji ABUBAKAR SULEIMAN.
The letter, which was addressed to the PCG, read in part, “We write to inform you that the National Chairman, His Excellency, MAI MALA BUNI has approved your recognition as a support group of the party.”
Even though the supporters of OSINBAJO and TINUBU have insisted that the alleged attempt to pit the two leaders against each other will fail, there are no indications that any of them will drop his presidential aspiration the way it is at the moment.
On Saturday, TINUBU inaugurated the steering executives of his campaign team, with the MAGNUS ABE’s faction in Rivers State forming the entire membership in the state.
Transportation Minister, Rt Hon CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI is also being rumoured as having ambition to succeed President MUHAMMADU BUHARI IN 2023.
Although, AMAECHI has not publicly confirmed his interest to join the presidential race, support groups have emerged, tipping him seriously to contest.
BraveViews had earlier reported how one of OSINBAJO’s support groups flooded parts of Ibadan in Oyo State with OSINBAJO for President 2023 banners.