The political camp of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National Leader has become jittery following the endorsement of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for the 2023 presidential election by former head of state, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
The ex-dictator, on Friday, threw his weight behind Osinbajo for the nation’s top job, even though the vice president has yet to declare his interest to run.
His comment comes on the crest of an earlier one by Osita Okechukwu, Director-General, Voice of Nigeria, VON who advised the former Lagos helmsman to shelve his presidential ambition.
The VON boss who is also a strong ally of President Buhari from Enugu state urged Tinubu to support another APC candidate
“If I am consulted by our national leader, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on whether he should run or not for the exalted office of the President of Nigeria in 2023, my candid advice will be that he should use his abundant Almighty God’s endowment to unite the APC, and unite the South and by extension our beloved country, by backing a candidate from the South East,” he said.
General Babangida, had while playing host to Osinbajo Grassroots Organisation, OGO in his Minna, Niger state Hilltop Mansion, described the vice president as someone that can be trusted with power, adding that Osinbajo has a way of inspiring Nigerians.
According to him, Osinbajo “is a good man. I have spoken with him a couple of times; he is a good person. We need a good man like Osinbajo at the helm of affairs of this country – someone people can learn from; someone people of goodwill share a common conviction with.
“He has this great passion for the country and I want other Nigerians to emulate his passion for the good of our country. “We want other Nigerians to emulate this passion. I am always available to share my experience about the country.”
He also stated that politicians should always have a vision for a united and great Nigeria as a shining example of democracy in the continent. He also hailed the convener of the group for their convictions and belief about the country.
Babangida said Nigerians are prepared to support any politician who has something good to offer the citizens.
“I believe you have experience with politicians already and we will follow you based on this conviction that you have about this country,” he said.
Also speaking, the national convener, OGO, Ojo Sylvanus Folusho, said, “We are here to consult former military president Ibrahim Babangida and you hear him clearly. Babangida described Osinbajo as a passionate leader that can move the country forward to the greater heights we are expecting.
“Babangida is a resolute leader and he has given us his word and we should convey his best wishes to the vice president. He also told us to continue our conviction for a better Nigeria and we will continue to preach the gospel of Osinbajo.
Babangida’s support for Osinbajo, the magazine learnt has caused tension in Tinubu’s camp, because many supporters of the former governor of Lagos state believes that the former military leader is still widely respected among the nation’s political class.
Tinubu is set to declare his interest to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in January amidst consultations by his supporters with various interest groups across the country. The Lagos strongman recently disclosed that he would not turn down the calls from his supporters to vie for president.
“I am not going to turn Nigerians down, but I will still effectively and widely consult, particularly brainstorm with my friends and find a date to come out openly and tell Nigerians.
“The president is still in office. I don’t want to distract him from all the challenges that he might face today. So, we will consult and make our programmes known to the people later and the intention is clear. So, you keep guessing,” Tinubu said at a meeting with members of the Northern Alliance Committee, NAC.
His close aides, however, believes that the attempt to drag Osinbajo into the presidential contest will polarise APC members in the South west and also erode the support base of the former governor.
“The enemies of the region are doing everything they can to scuttle our chances. Asiwaju and Osinbajo belongs to the same political camp having worked together in Lagos. As you know, Tinubu was instrumental to Osinbajo’s emergence as vice president.
“So, what some people are trying to do, is to decide the south west before the election so that it will be easy for them to wrestle power form the APC. But Osinbajo has not declared whether he will run or not, so let’s wait till the appropriate time,” a top APC stalwart in Lagos who said he’s not authorized to speak on the issue, told the magazine on Thursday.
