The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo as expected has declared his interest to run for the 2023 presidential election. His declaration followed a series of speculations on his ambition. While some had speculated that the V.P’s loyalty to a former Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be an impediment to his ambition, suggesting he should step down for the former governor, others have argued that Osinbajo’s loyalty shouldn’t force him out of the race as he should not be disenfranchised for being loyal to Tinubu.
Recall that in a short video shared on his Twitter page, the V.P highlighted all that he had achieved as Vice President under the current All Progressives Congress, APC, accompanying same with a caption that he would be declaring to run for the office of the president today.
He wrote:
I’m 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 the APC.”
There is a general belief among political analysts that Tinubu recommended Osinbajo for the V.P job. And Tinubu had since commenced consultations ahead of the 2023 electioneering campaign, having also declared to run for the office of the president.
Since Tinubu’s declaration, the vice president has been foot-dragging, an action many said was done out of fear and respect for his former boss.
But shortly after Osinbajo’s declaration, photos surfaced on the streets, making caricatures of his decision to run. The image with the caption Judas Iscariot has since been disowned by the Tinubu camp as it tends to portray the Jesus-Judas episode at Easter.
But Afripost.ng has gathered that despite the denial and the pretense in both camps as though all is well, Osinbajo and Tinubu are heading to a serious battle that may end up affecting the political image of the V.P.
A source who spoke to Afripost.ng but pleaded not to be mentioned said unless Osinbajo steps down before the APC primaries, it’s going to be difficult for him to pass through the current political terrain after his tenure as V.P.
He said:
“Osinbajo’s decision came at the wrong time. If he had done it before Tinubu, it could have been somewhat justified. But doing this after Asiwaju had declared put him in a very serious position. It will be very-very difficult for him to pass through this and return again as a politician. That’s just the truth. Look at the case of Aregbesola. I know people pushed him into it. Ordinarily, the V.P has so much respect for Tinubu. But you know power can do anything.”
But another source from the camp of the V.P argued that there is nothing wrong with Osinbajo running for a position Tinubu also wants.
According to him, “ If Tinubu was fair to the V.P and to the political equation, he should know ordinarily that Osinbajo’s declaration has a positive bearing on his ambition. Who knows what the V.P would likely do at the last count? And such a last minutes action would definitely favour Tinubu. I think Tinubu should not ignore him. Let him engage Osinbajo in a discussion and come to an agreement,’’ he said.
But feelers are that by jettisoning the consensus arrangement of the APC, Osinbajo may be running into the murky waters as he may lose the primaries and lose Tinubu at the same time. Whether this will come to reality will depend on his decision as the APC primaries draw close.