Following Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s public proclamation of his presidential ambition, supporters of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and supporters of All Progressives Congress national leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu engaged in a battle of words on social media, television, and radio on Monday.
This comes on the heels of reports that the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, may back the Vice-President’s bid.
After months of speculation, Osinbajo announced his intention to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in a pre-recorded video posted on social media on Monday.
The announcement came after a meeting with APC governors late Sunday at the Presidential Villa to solicit their support ahead of the party’s primary, which is set to take place next month.
In the video, Osinbajo stated that he believes God has blessed him with many experiences as the country’s second most powerful person, allowing him to serve as President more effectively in 2023 and beyond.
He stated, “Dear Nigerians, for the past seven years, I have served as Vice President under a true Nigerian patriot, a servant of the nation in war and peace, and a man of integrity, President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We have, together, worked through some of the most difficult times in our nation’s history, but we have remained focused on securing the country, providing infrastructure, and growing our economy. As stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution, our tenure will end next year.
“In this period of seven years, I have served the government in several capacities, and I have, at the direction of Mr President, represented our country in sensitive high-level international engagements.”
Osinbajo, who stated that he has visited virtually every local government in the country, said his contacts with Nigerians and the lessons he learned from them put him in a better position to follow Buhari.
He added, “I have been in markets, factories, schools, and farms. I have been in agricultural, mining, and oil-producing communities in the Delta, in Kebbi, Enugu, Borno; Rivers, Plateau and Ondo, and in all other states of the federation, listening to the diverse experiences and yearnings of our people. I have visited our gallant troops in the North-East and our brothers and sisters in the IDP camps.
“I have felt the pain and anguish of victims of violent conflicts, terrorist attacks, flooding, fire, and other disasters. I have been in the homes of many ordinary Nigerians in various parts of the country. I believe that the very reason why the Almighty God gave me these experiences, these insights, and these opportunities, is that they must be put to the use of our country and its great people.
“This is why I am today, with utmost humility, formally declaring my intention to run for the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress.”
Osinbajo promised to finish the Buhari administration’s unfinished business, including radically transforming the country’s security and intelligence architecture; completing the justice system’s reform, focusing on adequate remuneration and welfare of judicial personnel, ensuring justice for all and the rule of law; and rapidly advancing infrastructure development, particularly power, roads, railways, and broadband connectivity.
As a result, he appealed to all Nigerians to join him in his effort to construct a country where everyone has equal access to the wealth of opportunities that God has bestowed on the country.
“I now most solemnly and respectfully seek the support of fellow Nigerians everywhere in this land, and the diaspora, young and old, male and female, in the great and exciting journey that we have ahead of us. I seek your own support,” he added.
Vice-President will lose – Asiwaju women
Supporters of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo flocked to the streets in numerous states shortly after his announcement. On Twitter, the hashtag ‘Judas’ was trending at number one, with many Tinubu supporters accusing the Vice-President of betraying his former benefactor, who is also running for President.
Tinubu followers also stated that the timing of the alleged betrayal, which occurred just days before Good Friday, was not coincidental.
In a Facebook post, Toyin Badmus, the National President of the Asiwaju Women Cooperative Society of Nigeria, portrayed Osinbajo’s declaration as a “re-enactment of Awolowo vs Akintola in the old Western Region,” adding, “The traitor always loses…. Yemi is the traitor.”
Former APC Publicity Secretary in Lagos State, Chief Joe Igbokwe, who is now an assistant to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, believes that people who have benefited from Tinubu’s generosity should not run against him.
In a Facebook post, Igbokwe wrote, “If you are one of the people Asiwaju raised up and you are eyeing the presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, show respect and withdraw from the race.”
Vice-President lost his polling booth, we are not aware of his political relevance – Lagos APC
Mr Seye Oladejo, the APC’s Publicity Secretary in Lagos State, noted that Osinbajo lost his polling unit to the Peoples Democratic Party during the last Presidential election in 2019.
“The only demand is for us to go to the 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 am 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,” he said.
Osinbajo’s ambition about service, Tinubu’s bid about personal ambition – Progressive lawyers
On Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ program on Monday, Kayode Ajulo, the Convener, Progressive Lawyers for Osinbajo, claimed that while Osinbajo’s desire was about service, Tinubu’s ambition was about personal ambition.
Responding to a question on the ambition of the two men, Ajulo stated, “One is a lifelong ambition while the other is about the ambition of 200 million Nigerians. Tinubu is a factor. He has done well for some people but the Asiwaju factor is more of a parochial factor to the demand of 200 million Nigerians.”
The National Coalition Group for Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has also urged Tinubu to back Osinbajo, claiming that Aso Rock is not a retirement home for the elderly.
The coalition also stated that, contrary to popular opinion, Tinubu was not the APC’s national leader because anyone seeking the presidency should not be the party’s national leader. According to the NCG, Buhari is the APC’s sole leader.
Dr Eli Dibia, NCG’s National Secretary, stated this in Abuja during a news conference he co-hosted with Dr Daniel Onyemaka, NCG’s National Publicity Secretary, and Hyacinth Turnoe, NCG’s National Coordinator.
He said, “We only have one leader in APC in the person of Muhammadu.Buhari. Tinubu is only an aspirant. When you give birth to a child in African culture, it is your prayer that your child will be greater than you. We urge Tinubu to anoint his son so that we can have fresh air.”
Osinbajo’s is close to leadership of our group, we believe in him – Aregbesola’s faction
It was also learnt that Rauf Aregbesola, the Minister of Interior, who is embroiled in a conflict with his erstwhile godfather, Bola Tinubu, may be a supporter of Osinbajo, since a faction loyal to him in Osun State identified him as a friend and welcomed him on Monday.
“Aregbesola is part of our team,” a staunch supporter of the Vice-President said. “Nigerians will find out in the coming days.”
According to reports, the leadership of the Osun APC section loyal to ex-governor Aregbesola branded Osinbajo as a “friend of the cause.”
While commenting further, Abiodun Agboola, the faction’s Publicity Secretary, stated that the progressive family in Osun had not determined who to support among the presidential candidates.
He also stated that the organization supported Osinbajo, but that “the Osun Progressive has not formally taken a position, but the Vice-President is quite close to the group’s leadership.” The group will issue an official statement soon.
“We believe in the Vice-president going by his antecedents and what he has been able to achieve in this administration with his loyalty to the President and the party as a whole. We are happy that he has finally declared his intention to run for the presidential position.”
When asked if Aregbesola would strive to help Osinbajo become the APC’s presidential candidate, his media assistant, Sola Fasure, said his principal had not specified who he would work for.
He said, “He (Aregbesola) has not indicated who is going to work for. The situation is still unfolding.”
Also, a coalition of youth groups for Osinbajo rallied support for his presidential ambition come 2023 in Jalingo the Taraba State capital.
The youth groups who blocked major streets of Jalingo for a solidarity walk called on all and sundry to support Osinbajo.
Speaking to journalists after the rally, Philibus Gwagwaje, said Nigeria needed an experienced man who would deliver on the needs of the nation and that Osinbajo possessed the requisite credentials to succeed President Buhari.
In Ondo State, a group, under the auspices of the Yemi Osinbajo Campaign Organisation, expressed delight over the presidential declaration of the Vice President.
Addressing the gathering of Osinbajo’s supporters at the Town Hall, Akure, the Ondo State capital, the Director-General of the Yemi Osinbajo Campaign Organiation, Mr Ifeoluwa Fasoranti, said the group was happy with the declaration
In Jalingo, Taraba State’s capital, a coalition of young groups promoting Osinbajo mobilized support for his presidential bid in 2023.
Youth organizations that blocked key avenues in Jalingo for a solidarity walk urged everyone to rally behind Osinbajo.
After the event, Philibus Gwagwaje told journalists that Nigeria needed an experienced leader who could meet the country’s demands, and that Osinbajo had the qualifications to succeed President Buhari.
In Ondo State, a group led by the Yemi Osinbajo Campaign Organisation expressed excitement over the Vice President’s presidential declaration.
Addressing the gathering of Osinbajo’s supporters at the Town Hall, Akure, the Ondo State capital, the Director-General of the Yemi Osinbajo Campaign Organiation, Mr Ifeoluwa Fasoranti, said the group was happy with the declaration.
