Nigerians laud Osinbajo’s spirit of fair play as photos with Tinubu trend online

Osinbajo
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, hosting the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, to a private session during his visit on Tuesday, October 18, 2022. Photo: Statehouse/Tolani Alli

By Oluwafemi Popoola

Many Nigerians have applauded the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, for his unusual spirit of sportsmanship after he met with the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in Statehouse, Abuja.

The two leaders are seen together wearing great smiles in the viral photos that have been trending on various social media channels.

It was gathered that the APC presidential candidate had requested a meeting with the Vice President just a few hours before the duo attended Day 2 of the last Buhari Administration’s Ministerial Retreat at the Presidential Villa.

Before their meeting, there had been many talks of Osinbajo, and Tinubu’s perceived rift, which the rumour mongers said stemmed from a political rivalry between the duo who had slugged it out in a context at the APC presidential primary election held in June at Eagles Square, Abuja.

Although, Tinubu became the party’s flag bearer, still, many of Asiwaju’s supporters had consistently flayed the Vice President, claiming he had refused to publicly endorse the presidential ambition of his former principal.

However, recall the Vice President had congratulated the former Lagos governor on his emergence at the primaries but later Osinbajo was said to have advised the party against the Muslim-Muslim ticket that Tinubu had adopted with the choice of Kashim Shettima, a Muslim from the North-East as his running mate, whereas, the VP was said to have warned that “such an adoption would not augur well both for the party and the country.”

But, earlier in Abuja, almost immediately after the APC primaries when he paid a visit to his support group members in Abuja, the VP had told instructed supporters to embrace the party’s candidate, BAT, saying he had told him in a congratulatory letter that:

“The dream of this country, the dream of a new country remains alive and well. And I want you to know in your hearts that we are democrats when we participate in a contest and the results are announced.“

“No matter what those results may be, we abide by them because there is only one process for democrats, whether that process is good or bad, there is only one, and we have gone through that process.

“And in that process, a winner has been adjudged, but that does not kill the dream of the great future.

All these clearly indicate that there is no animosity irrespective of the turnout of the APC primaries and Tinubu’s choice of a running mate. What Osinbajo was said to be opposed to is the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

The now-viral photos of the two great leaders have doused the tension of an alleged fight between them and it is evident that the images show both are still bound with a great sense of friendship despite their ideological differences.

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Reacting to the trending photos, many Nigerians took to social media to commend the Vice President for his maturity and his politics with his void of bitterness.

While some praised him for not being a sore loser others argued that there is so much to learn from VP Osinbajo, saying his courage, dedication to Nigeria and character should be taught in school.

Below are other comments:

“Nice to see the VP and Tinubu share a moment. No doubt in my mind this two have great respect for each other. Have a sneaky suspicion Osinbajo was all ready to jump into this campaign, as promised, but the Muslim-Muslim ticket thing may not have sat too well. I think” __, Susan Henshaw

“Tinubu fan are the hating on Osinbajo period.

“We have said it many times that Osinbajo and Tinubu do not have any strive but una no dey hear.”

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and APC presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu met earlier today in Abuja, both smiling as they spoke.

Despite rumours of both men being hostile towards each other,

Things seem to be going great between them.

“Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with VP Osinbajo today. I hope those with small minds denigrating the VP will now hide their face in shame.
Our VP isn’t a sore loser. And Asiwaju obviously can’t do without him. Both are cool. Osinbajo is a leader beyond 2023.” Adewumi Collins tweeted.

“Why the ERATS are busy trying to tarnish his image and drag him on Twitter, BAT wey know his value and importance is meeting with him. Yemi Osinbajo is an asset all day….🇳🇬002″__ Ekiti kan tweeted.

“To whom it may concern📌 BAT and PYO met again today and all I see was a pure friendship continuation.🥂 I respect the two of them more now 🥂These two really do not have any personal issues, na una keypad warriors dey look for a non-existent fight. God bless Nigeria🙏 Osinbajo💝 ” __ Falomo Joy

“I think the only thing in the way of these two is the same faith ticket.
I hope those baby followers of Tinubu are learning.__ Musa Jacob wrote.