Victor EzejaWith the formal declaration of intention to run for office of president in 2023 by Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, there are concerns in the political circles as to how his interest would be reconciled with that of APC national leader, Alhaji Ahmed Bola Tinubu who has earlier declared to run for the same position.
Convener, Progressive Lawyers for Osinbajo, Dr. Kayode Ajulo stated that, given the dynamics of politics, such concern might turn out not to be a stormy issue between the Vice President and the national leader, but at the end both candidates could reach a compromise resulting in Tinubu endorsing and promoting Osinbajo for the presidential seat.
Dr. Ajulo made the assertion during Channels TV SunriseDaily show on Monday morning, while reacting to the Osinbajo declaration and how it might clash with the interest of the national leader who equally contributed to his rise to political fame in Nigeria.
Osinbajo in a broadcast on Monday morning said given his experience in public service so far, he has gotten deep insight into the issues affecting the country and therefore qualify to be the president to tackle the problems.
He equally stressed the need for strengthening the unity of the country through effective political leadership and hinted on working to fulfil their earlier promise of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty through various approaches such as social investment programmes.
Dr. Ajulo who is a former national secretary of Labour Party said the concern should not be about the ambition of one man in the party, (referring to Tinubu) but about the common good of the Nigerian population, and the emergence of a leader who can address that.
“What matters most is to think of the generality of the people not the ambition of one man. The interest of the Nigeria n population cannot be subjected to the aspiration of one man.”
He added that Osinbajo enjoys the confidence of president, Muhammadu Buhari, because he has consistently exhibited loyalty and competence in issues he has handled as Vice President.
Ajulo said it was not just a declaration of interest but acceptance of calls by Nigerians who think he is competent to manage the affairs of the country.
“Prof. Osinbajo is the most experienced among all that wants to run for the position of president of Nigeria. For the past seven years, he has been on, visiting everybody, knowing everything and, he came well prepared. We need not talk about intellectual prowess, let’s talk about his experience, particularly when it comes to position of executive. This is someone I see that is prime for this job from the 80s not even the 90s or 2000s.
“…this the only one that has the confidence of his government, his principal, his people and the governors,” Dr. Ajulo further stated.
Reacting to the declaration also, a Professor of Political Science at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Prof. Aliyu Baba, said it was a weighty decision for the vice president as he had to embark on months of intense consultation with party stakeholders across the country.
He alluded to the positive relationship between Osinbajo and the president being a factor that would work in his interest during party nomination.
On the hurdles the vice president has to work over, Prof. Baba who is also a public affairs analyst and political commentator, said the issue of zoning if adopted by the APC, will not affect him because Buhari will complete the tenure of the North in 2023 and the power will move to South, adding that it is only when it gets to that level that the question of which part of the South it should go to would come up.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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