The presidential ambition of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed has polarized major political players in Kano state, one of Nigeria’s commercial capitals.
Barely 24 hours after Jibrin Abdulmumin, a former House of Representatives member declared Tinubu as the best candidate for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in next year’s presidential election, another lawmaker from the ancient city, Hafizu Kawu, the member representing Tarauni federal constituency, has thrown his weight behind Osinbajo.
The state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is a trusted ally of the former Lagos helmsman. The two politicians became close, sources say after Tinubu helped Ganduje to win the 2019 governorship election. It was on Ganduje’s instance, those that understand the politics of the state said, that hundreds of Islamic clerics organized prayers for the presidential ambition of Tinubu last Saturday.
Analysts insist that the state will be one of the battleground states in next year’s presidential election, because of its voting potentials. Kano has always been a major factor in who becomes president in the country for many years.
Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos state and Osinbajo are eyeing the presidency after the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure in 2023, even though the two politicians had yet to declare their interest publicly.
But their supporters have been busy campaigning for them across the country, and Kano is not left out in the ongoing struggle to make their preferred candidate the flagbearer of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC come next year’s presidential election.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday on Monday, Kawu said Osinbajo will received maximum support from the state if he decides to take a shot at the nation’s top job.
“Osinbajo” he said “is a saleable candidate for the party whose antecedents, experience, honesty, capacity and capability speak volumes.
“As a close ally and former aide of the Vice President, I chose to make this briefing without his consent, yet I am doing it due to Osinbajo’s impressive vision for the country.
“His foresight in so many areas will be useful for Nigeria. He is loyal, detribalised and a man of God who I think is natural successor of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“I worked with him from 2015 to 2019 , I know him personally and I also know his capabilities and potentials,” Kawu said.
Last week, more than 2,500 Islamic clerics held a special prayer session for the success of the presumed presidential ambition of Tinubu.
Jibrin who spoke after the prayer which took place in his village, Kofa, in Bebeji Local Government area of the state, said the prayer was “organised for the success of the presidential ambition of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the forthcoming general elections as well as for peace and stability in the country. I can confirm to you that Tinubu will contest the 2023 elections. The aspect of the decision is done; it’s a done deal,” he said.
He explained further that, “arrangements to publicly declare will soon be known. I’m talking to you officially that he (Tinubu) will contest the presidential seat.
“We need somebody who can carry along everybody and I believe that Tinubu is the best option for Nigeria. He is not a religious fanatic and has massive networks across all the boundaries in the country.
“Asiwaju has worked extensively for the APC and never shifted ground. He is competent to be the president of this country”.
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