- Osinbajo Maintains Silence
In an apparent bid to dispel rumours of lackadaisical posture towards the electoral victory of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the oncoming 2023 poll, President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to led the campaign train of the party’s Presidential candidate, even as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo remains silence over his involvement .
Indication to this effect came to light yesterday when the Vice President, after a meeting with the APC presidential flag bearer at his Abuja home, declined comment on his expected role.
The reported frosty relationship between the Vice President and Tinubu began when professor Osinbajo indicated interest in the party’s presidential primaries. The APC national leader, Asiwaju who could not hid his disappointment over what he considered to be betrayal by the Vice President, however, deployed all available arsenals at his disposal that guaranteed his eventual emergence as the party’s flag bearer.
It was reported that Asiwaju Tinubu single handedly expunged the names of the Vice President from the list of his campaign team when it was initially compiled.
The New diplomat gathered that President Buhari’s current posture was aimed at dispelling speculations making rounds that he would preferred a President of Fulani’s extraction to succeed him.
It was also alleged in certain quarters that President Buhari’s past postures towards Asiwaju Tinubu’s campaign was predicated on the Aspirant’s claim during the APC primaries that without him, Buhari would not have succeeded at the 2015 presidential poll.
An impeccable party source hinted that President Buhari was not comfortable with the process that culminated to the implementation of ” Emilokan,” a yoruba phrase, implying it’s my turn into the Nigeria’s political lexicon.
The APC presidential candidate was reported to be arrogating to himself the role of a kingmaker in the nation’s democratic space, and announced his resolve to reneged on the role to become a king. Those utterances by Asiwaju was reported to angered President Buhari and hence his aloofness to the Tinubu’s campaign
However, political Pundits were of the opinion that President Buhari’s resolve to play laudable role towards the electoral victory of Asiwaju Tinubu, implied, he has buried the hatchet to allow peace prevail in the party.
However, in a statement by the Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, quoted the President as saying that his recent official visit to the United States was the reason for his absence in most of the Campaign rallies.
Buhari said while he remained committed to party politics, his functions and duties as a President will equally be upheld.
“This is to dispel expressed concerns in certain quarters that the President has not featured in Asiwaju’s campaigns since it was formerly launched in Jos, Plateau State
The President also said that the APC campaigns have so far been the most aggressive in recent history.
“They have been impressive and of a high voltage,” compared to the opposition that seems to be playing catch-up.
He expressed strong optimism that the party will win all the elections fairly and squarely.
