By Akinwale Kasali
The 2023 Presidential election is gradually gathering momentum, as supporters of All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and those of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, are trading words over the preferred Candidate for the office.
Yoruba Welfare Group, YWG, a socio-cultural organisation, has berated those imploring Tinubu to step down for Osinbajo, saying that Tinubu is the preferred and best candidate to lead the nation come 2023.
Comrade Adegoke Alawuje, YWG National President said Osinbajo lacks the political will and the charisma to lead the nation aright, urging Osinbajo to listen to the voice of reason and step down for Tinubu.
Alawuje made this statement following recent calls by the Progressive Projects and the Southwest Movement for Tinubu to step down for the Vice President to hoist the Party’s flag come 2023.
The Southwest Movement and Progressives Project Group Movement Coordinator, Abioye Akerele and Secretary, Olugbenga Byron, had said that Osinbajo has what it takes to lead the nation in 2023.
It further posited that Nigeria’s Presidency may elude the Southwest in 2023 if Osinbajo is not promoted for the Presidency.
The Pro-Osinbajo Group, therefore, appealed to Southwest leaders and elders to prevail on Tinubu not only to step down but use his resources and influence to support Osinbajo.
“In the light of the above, we, members of the South West Movement for Osinbajo believe that our revered Obas across Yorubaland, the APC Governors in the South West geo-political zone, all Yoruba political elites, business moguls and leaders of thought should now rise to prevail on Asiwaju to invest his political capital in the person of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, in the overall interest of the Yoruba people.
“We believe strongly that Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is our sure bet for 2023 in the entire South West and we need Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the principal game changer to support this bid”.
The Group had claimed that Osinbajo has the requisite character, capacity, capability and the intellect to run Nigeria. As the number two in Government, he is the closest to the highly coveted seat.
The Progressive Project which is an umbrella for all Nigerian groups at home and abroad, canvassing for Osinbajo for 2023 is optimistic that Osinbajo will succeed President Buhari.
However, YWG President, Comrade Alawuje said asking Tinubu to step down for any other candidate in the Southwest is a wrong calculation, saying such counter-productive move could only be initiated by the enemies of the region and Nigeria in general.
According to him, an attempt to present any other candidate beside Tinubu in 2023 will be politically calamitous and suicidal for Yoruba sons and daughters.
“Those who are trying to lobby Tinubu to step down are enemies of progress, who are only after their narrow and selfish interest.
“Inviting Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to replace his political boss in the 2023 race can neither be in favour Osinbajo himself nor to the advantage of Yoruba race but to rob the Southwest of the opportunity in 2023; for Osinbajo doesn’t have the political war-chest to defeat powerful and cohesive opposition party.
YWG also warned that any mistake in this regard may inadvertently give undue advantage to the North since the main opposition party may present a candidate from there. He insisted that the move is an indirect ploy to scheme out the Southwest from its vantage position.
Stressing further, Alawuje explained that the Yoruba Welfare Group had gone round the country and has conducted its research ahead of any other groups before adopting Tinubu as its sole candidate.
“Any mistake to present another candidate to succeed Buhari in 2023 is a ploy to favour candidates from other regions.
“This is how we always destroy ourselves. How can you ask the most qualified candidate to step down for the less qualified one. No doubt Osinbajo is good but he’s not in anyway near his principal in terms of capabilities. it’s time for Nigerians to know those who are behind this diversionary call. It’s time they know those who are clandestinely working behind the scene against Tinubu’s interest. They do not love Osinbajo, their target is to get at Tinubu by whatever means.
“That is the reason they wanted Tinubu dead before now. We know their game plan but we will allow time to reveal their secrets”.
YWG appealed to those who have hidden agenda to bury them for national interest, saying Tinubu is the answer to Nigeria’s problems at this time.
“Tinubu has worked assiduously to build a formidable political structure across the thirty six states since 1991/1992 when he was a Senator. He has criss-crossed the entire regions and prepared ready for the general election too; it is rather too late for any other candidate to match his preparedness now.
“No one in the Southwest or Nigeria can match the level of preparedness needed to lead this country except if they want us to sell out our mandate because of the reasons they couldn’t reveal. They must beware that their agenda is dead on arrival.
Alawuje assured the anti-Tinubu campaigners that their agenda will fail just like many evil steps taken to stop him in the past failed.
“YWG will not mind to take on religious or traditional leaders who are found culpable in this diversive call, no matter their age or position, as long as they plan or wish to thwart the chances of Yorubas in 2023 just as they did to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in 1963 and Chief MKO Abiola in 1993, saying, “Tinubu is our lost glory of 1993 which shall return in 2023”.
He admonished religious leaders to be wary of dividing Yorubas along religious or sectional lines, advising them to allow politics to flow on its natural course and take its right shape and form.
