By David Lawani, Cross Udo (Abuja), and Oludamisi Ojo (Akure)
The declaration by the Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, seeking the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 general elections against his political leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has split the South-West loyalists of the party.
Osinbajo yesterday ended months of speculation about his presidential ambition when he announced in a seven-minute video clip that he would be battling other aspirants for the APC presidential ticket.
The interest of the two men has sharply divided the party base in the South-West.
Before yesterday’s declaration, the vice-president had late Sunday hosted 10 governors of the APC at his Aguda House residence where he disclosed his intention to run for the APC presidential ticket, but barely 24 hours after, Tinubu met with 14 APC governors at the Kebbi State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.
The governors in attendance include Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi), Bababjide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Hope Uzodimma (Imo); Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), and Gboyega Oyetola (Osun).
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the national leader of the APC and former governor of Lagos State, noted that he met with the governors to seek their support for his ambition to become Nigeria’s president.
“My mission here is to seek collaboration, support, and encouragement of my party, the APC, for my ambition to become the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a replacement for President Muhammadu Buhari after his tenure,” he said.
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When asked about Osinbajo’s declaration and 2023 ambition, Tinubu said, “I don’t have any son grown up enough to make such declaration.”
He added, “The fact that we have people in our party that express desire to lead the party into the highest office in the electoral contest shows how much this our party has resonated with Nigerians and our party members.”
Speaking on the purpose of the meeting, Bagudu said Tinubu met the governors to formally brief them on his intention to lead Nigeria at the expiration of the present administration in 2023.
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“He met members of the PGF and stated what he has said publicly, his intention to seek the office of the President come 2023 which he had already announced before now.
“He briefed us on his reasons, thinking, and message. The governors graciously listened to him to digest everything he said. He acknowledged the role of the governors in the last convention of the party by helping in the evolution of the leadership that is acceptable and widely acknowledged by all party members.”
The Kebbi State helmsman, who is the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) assured the presidential aspirant that they (governors) would discuss the matter during their meeting and make an informed decision on his message.
He also claimed that there was nothing wrong with Osinbajo contesting the presidential ticket against his godfather, Tinubu, adding that it confirms the quality of the party.
Asked if the duo contesting for the ticket is putting the governors in a tight corner, he interjected, “No, no, no, in fact, on the contrary, we appreciate our party because it has become a party that has endeared itself to Nigerians. We have many brilliant people in our party, some serving and some not serving.
“The fact that we have people in our party that express desire to lead the party into the highest office in the electoral contest shows how much this our party has resonated with Nigerians and our party members.
“For us, it is a hallmark of success that people are showing interest, but at the end of the day and because they are leaders of the party, they will always put the party’s interest at heart,” he argued.
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Responding to insinuations that the APC may adopt a consensus candidate for the presidential ticket, Bagudu said, “We always encourage our party to go for the best. Don’t forget that in the 2015 presidential election primary, President Buhari contested against several others and it was a good contest.
“There is nothing wrong. Members of the party always want to see consensus if it is possible but we are a democratic party. In our last convention, we had a consensus in some of the offices and an election in some others. There is always misrepresentation of consensus as if people are being snowballed into positions they would rather not take.
“APC has done well as a party, President Buhari has led the party ably well and we believe strongly that come 2023, Nigerians will see another President of the APC extraction.”
•VP: “I am in the race to offer my services for my nation.”
Vice President Osinbajo has promised to establish Nigeria of the dreams of the founding fathers if allowed to be the President in 2023.
Osinbajo also said that Nigeria is blessed with the resources to be the foremost black nation on earth and therefore urged the citizens to birth the expectations of greatness that were conceived by the founding fathers.
The vice-president, who stated this in his declaration speech to contest for the 2023 presidential election, said it would be a collective responsibility to build a country where all citizens are treated fairly, justly, and with respect.
He further called for a country where everyone will be given equal access to the abundant opportunities that God has bestowed on the nation.
The vice-president said his experiences, insights, and opportunities must be used for Nigeria and Nigerians, having been part of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in the past seven years.
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In the declaration titled, “Why I am running for president”, he said he was best positioned to succeed President Buhari, having gone round to all nooks and crannies of the country to know the problems and feelings of the people.
He said, “Dear Nigerians, for the past seven years, I have served as Vice President under a true Nigerian patriot, a servant of the nation in war and peace, and a man of integrity, President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We have, together, worked through some of the most difficult times in the history of our nation, but we have remained focused on securing the country, providing infrastructure, and growing our economy. As stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution, our tenure will end next year.
“In this period of seven years, I have served the government in several capacities, and I have, at the direction of Mr. President, represented our country in sensitive high-level international engagements.
“I have been to practically all local governments in Nigeria. I have been in markets, factories, schools, and farms. I have been in agricultural, mining and oil-producing communities in the Delta, in Kebbi, Enugu, Borno; Rivers, Plateau and Ondo; and in all other States of the federation, listening to the diverse experiences and yearnings of our people.
“I have visited our gallant troops in the North East and our brothers and sisters in the IDP camps. I have felt the pain and anguish of victims of violent conflicts, terrorist attacks, flooding, fire, and other disasters.
“I have been in the homes of many ordinary Nigerians in various parts of the country. I have sat with our technopreneurs in Lagos, Edo, and Kaduna, with our Nollywood and Kannywood actors; with our musicians from Lagos, Onitsha and Kano. And I have spoken to small and large businesses.
“I stood where they stood and sat where they sat. I know their hopes, aspirations, and fears; and I believe that those hopes and aspirations are the seeds for the great Nigeria that we all desire.
“I believe that the very reason why the Almighty God gave me these experiences, these insights, and these opportunities, is that they must be put to the use of our country and its great people.
“This is why I am today, with utmost humility, formally declaring my intention to run for the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.”
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Osinbajo said if by the grace of God and the will of the people, he was given the opportunity, he would first and foremost complete what the Buhari administration had started and radically transform the nation’s security and intelligence architecture.
He also promised to complete the reform of the justice system focusing on adequate remuneration and welfare of judicial personnel, ensuring justice for all and the observance of rule of law, rapidly advancing the infrastructure development, especially power, roads, railways, and broadband connectivity.
Besides, he promised to provide an excellent environment for businesses to thrive; taking the agriculture revolution to the next level especially mechanization, and developing the farm-to-table value chain.
The other priorities he marshalled out would include, “Making sure that the government, its agencies, and regulators serve the business community, creating a tech economy that will provide jobs for millions, enhancing our Social Investment Programmes to a full-scale social welfare scheme, completing the promise of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within this decade.
“Completing the task of ensuring that all Nigerians, male and female, attend school, reforming our educational system for relevance to the challenges of this century, completing the task of universal health coverage for all, and strengthening the capacity of States and Local Governments to deliver on their respective mandates.
“Above all, front and centre of our efforts will be the provision of jobs and opportunities for our young people. I now most solemnly and respectfully seek the support of fellow Nigerians everywhere in this land, and the diaspora, young and old, male and female, in the great and exciting journey that we have ahead of us. I seek your support.”
He said his government will work together “and establish by the grace of God, the Nigeria of our dreams in a few short years.”
According to him, “We will build on the foundation laid by our predecessors. We will need to move, with much speed, intentionality, and perseverance, towards the vision of a prosperous, stable, and secure nation.
“I am convinced beyond doubt that we have the creativity, the courage, the talent, and the resources to be the foremost black nation on earth. Let us now birth the expectations of greatness conceived generations before us.
“Let us build a Nigeria where the man from Nnewi sees the man in Gusau as his brother, where the woman in Warri sees the woman in Jalingo as her sister, where the love of our nation burns alike in the hearts of boys and girls from Gboko to Yenogoa. Where everywhere in this land is home for everyone, where our diversities, tribes, and faiths unite, rather than divide us.
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“Let our tribes become one tribe; the Nigerian tribe, where all are treated fairly, justly, and with respect. Where all are given equal access to the abundant opportunities that God has bestowed on this nation.”
•Split in S’ West
Meanwhile, the Bola Tinubu’s support group has described Osinbajo as a traitor after he declared to contest in the 2023 presidential election.
Tinubu’s women support group under the aegis of the Asiwaju Women Cooperative Society of Nigeria (AWCS) described Osinbajo as ‘Judas in the Bible’ and a traitor.
The AWSC National President, Mrs Toyin Badmus, in a Facebook post, described Osinbajo’s declaration as to the “re-enactment of Awolowo vs Akintola in the old Western region,” adding “The traitor always loses… Yemi is the traitor.”
While congratulating Osinbajo on his declaration, Badmus, who is a businesswoman, politician, and the Iyaloja of FCT (head of traders), said: “I hope you’re not relying on ASIWAJU structure. Even your people in Ikenne no want you.”
Members of the Tinubu group also stormed their WhatsApp platform to express disappointment at the VP for ‘betraying’ the APC leader.
The VP’s declaration has equally divided opinions on social media among those supporting his presidential bid and those against it.
However, while some have accused Osinbajo of ‘stabbing’ Tinubu in the back by daring to challenge him for the APC ticket, those supporting the VP believe that he possesses the qualities the country seeks in a leader.
Similarly, Reno Omokri, has said Osinbajo will stab Buhari as he did to Tinubu.
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Omokri, in his reaction to Osinbajo’s declaration, claimed that if the vice president could stab Bola Tinubu in the back by declaring to run for the presidency, then Buhari should watch his back.
In a tweet, the former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan said Osinbajo would back-stab Buhari if he becomes President in 2023.
“Wow! So, Osinbajo declares? If Osinbajo can stab Tinubu, who God used to make him what he is, in the back, then Buhari better hopes he never becomes President. Back-stabbing is a habit. If Osinbajo can back-stab Tinubu, he can back-stab Buhari after 2023,” he tweeted.
But in Ondo State, some APC members organised a gathering to show solidarity for Osinbajo’s declaration to run for the presidency in the 2023 general elections.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many of the supporters also trooped to the streets of Akure yesterday to celebrate the declaration.
Director-General, Yemi Osinbajo Campaign Organisation, Mr Ifeoluwa Fasoranti, who addressed the crowd at Akure Town Hall, said the people are happy to hear that the vice president has finally declared interest in the presidency.
“We thank God the vice president has declared his intention to contest. He has all the qualities needed to be president. This is the first vice president who has had no face-off with the president.
“Southwest is ready for Osinbajo. Some people said he would not declare but now the eagle has landed.
“As a member of the cabinet, if you have one of 10 proposals approved, you’re lucky. So, we cannot say that he should take full responsibility for whatever happened in government.
“But by the grace of God, when he gets behind the wheel as the president of the federal republic, everything will be normalised,” he said.
Also, the Director of Youth Mobilisation, Osinbajo Grassroots Organisation in Ondo State, Jamiu Maito, said as Osinbajo has now declared, they would begin mobilisation and start working for his ambition to be achieved.
Maito, who is the Ondo State House of Assembly member representing Akoko North East, said with his experience as the number two citizen in the country, he would move the country forward.
Similarly, an APC stalwart in the state, Lady Agbayewa Oreoluwa, said they had been expecting Osinbajo to declare to run, and we’re happy he has done so.
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“We have been expecting him for long to declare. Our children are suffering. The underprivileged, widows could not feed, so we need someone who can rescue us from this situation. We see Osinbajo doing this when he gets there,” she said.
A youth leader, Bamise Akintomide, also said that Osinbajo had the capability and energy to take the nation to the desired level, as a detribalised Nigerian”.
Also residents of Ekiti State yesterday trooped out to rally support for the Vice President of the country, Prof Yemi Osinbajo in his bid to contest the seat of the president on the platform of the All-progressives Congress, APC.
According to the residents, Osinbajo is the most competent and qualified aspirant that can deliver victory for the ruling APC.
The residents under the auspices of Osinbajo Grassroots Organisation (OGO) marched across the streets of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital where vehicular and human movements were disrupted for several hours.
The residents in their hundreds chanted solidarity songs in support of the VP, moved from the popular Fajuyi Park through the Ijigbo area to the APC secretariat in Ajilosun area where they were received by the party officials.
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Speaking during the rally, the leader of the group, Femi Adeleye, hailed the vice president for accepting to contest 2023 presidential, saying his competence and capabilities stood him out among the aspirants jostling for the nation’s number one seat.
Also, the Chairman of the APC in the state, Paul Omotosho, described the vice president as a worthy member and leader of the party, advising the people to go about their mobilisation for him in a peaceful atmosphere.
The chairman, who was represented by the state Secretary, Garba Arogundade, said whoever wins the primary election among the numerous aspirants would be readily supported by the party members towards delivering a victory for the ruling APC.
