By Akinwale Kasali
24-hours after Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo declared his interest in the Presidential race for the 2023 Election, criticism and counter criticism have trailed it.
Osinbajo had earlier declared that he was no longer a member of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress, APC, fold, since he had moved his membership to Ogun State when he revalidated his APC membership status in Ward One, Ikenne, Ogun State.
Prior to his movement, Osinbajo was a chieftain of the Lagos APC with his polling unit at Code 33, Unit 2 Victoria Garden City, Lagos. His Spokesperson, Laolu Akande, confirmed this development.
However, Lagos State APC spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, has openly criticised Vice Osinbajo over his decision to throw his hat into the ring for the party’s ticket ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
In a statement, Oladejo said the Vice President he should come to the Primary and face Tinubu.
“There is no problem. We knew he was going to declare. They should allow us to go to the primary. Let him come and face Asiwaju (Tinubu),” said Oladejo, who last weekend also declared his interest to contest for the House of Representatives.
He stressed that Osinbajo’s declaration on Monday pits him against his former boss and political benefactor, Bola Tinubu.
It is believed that Tinubu was instrumental in the emergence of Osinbajo, a Law professor and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in 2015.
“I am not worried at all. We acknowledge his constitutional right to contest. We also observed keenly how he struggled to paint his role in the past eight years in gold.
“At a time, l thought I was listening to a dirge until I realized it was a political declaration in a living room. Nigerians will have something to say about the scorecard in the fullness of time. The last time I checked, the Vice President was in charge of the economy.
“The only demand is for us to go to primary. Let us see how much support Osinbajo can garner from the party members. This is someone who could not even win his polling booth.
“I’m not aware of any change in political relevance and popularity since the last elections. I want to congratulate him for finally summoning the courage to throw his hat to the ring.
“We know that Nigerians at this time need a prepared President who has paid his dues in enthroning democracy, mentoring potential leaders and being an intestine helper to numerous people aside from being the reference point for good governance in Nigeria.”
No doubt, the declaration of Osinbajo has angered a lot of Tinubu’s loyalists who felt their principal has betrayed by Osinbajo. Before his declaration on Monday, Osinbajo had traversed the country holding consultations with notable politicians.
It was gathered that few hours after his declaration, social media accounts sympathetic to Tinubu’s cause began trending ‘Judas,’ an apparent reference to the Biblical Judas who betrayed his master, Jesus.
In a tweet by Jagaban Borgu@JideSGroup wrote; “This is the week that Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ in the Christian calendar. That this declaration is coming this same week is not a mere coincidence. May God be with Tinubu in Pilates’ Court when he shall face the Peoples verdict on whether to pardon him or nail him”.
Tinubu had publicly declined to speak on Osinbajo’s aspiration, distancing himself from him when some reporters referred to Osinbajo as Tinubu’s Son. He told them he had no such son old enough to make a Presidential declaration.
Oladejo maintained that Tinubu enjoys a lot of support across Nigeria.
“There are a lot of people who will come out to support him all over the country; even more in the North than South. So, we will be ready,” he said.
“We know Osinbajo is just a pawn on the chessboard of some game-masters.
“The message in the fact that this declaration came during the Holy Week is definitely not lost on all and sundry.”
