The relationship between the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, and the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been described as smooth, cordial and a long-standing one full of zest and unison.
This disclosure was made on by a volunteer political mobilisation group, the Osinbajo Support Movement (OSM), reacting to a national newspaper publication with the headline: “Snubbed by Tinubu in London, Osinbajo Ready for Presidential Fight of His Life,” on Sunday.
The group in a statement signed by its convener, Mr. Liberty Badmus Olawale, expressed concern over the purported presidential battle the publication said the Vice President would engage with the former Lagos State governor, both whom it said have not declared any intention to contest in the 2023 presidential election.
“For the records, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has not mentioned, not on television, not on radio, not via recorded audio, not via publication that he wants to contest in 2023.
“But if Nigerians want him to contest, and by a way of popular opinion and adulation as they currently do, they have not acted against any part of the Nigerian constitution,” the group said.
Similarly, it noted that: “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not declared his intention to run for the office of the President,” saying, “his supporters and well wishers want him to contest for the number one position in the land, same way hundreds of other Nigerians are being asked to declare their intention for same position.”
“We want to make it clear for the umpteenth time that Senator Bola Tinubu and Vice President Osinbajo are one and the same. They both enjoy the support of the people, same political zone, same political party, same ideology and are also allies. So, naysayers and wailers can take their cavil elsewhere,” it said.
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The group, The group who said it had earlier warned its members and the entire Nigerians to beware of a planned article that would paint an artificial red sea between the Vice President Osinbajo and APC leader, Asiwaju Tinubu, however reiterated its call on the general public to be wary of news publications with no proven sources as the 2023 elections draw nearer, charging, “fear them, articulate them, and decipher the innuendo” in them.
Referring to an earlier position of an aide to the Vice President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who had earlier made a statement on a similar subject, the group said, the issues raised in the newspaper publication, was “directly the opposite of Senator Babafemi Ojodu’s view,” calling on the author of the news story to “note that Senator Ojodu’s knowledge of Asiwaju and Vice President Osinbajo is stronger than what this article portrays in its periphery.”
It said: “We want to state unequivocally that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo enjoys a smooth, cordial and long relationship with the former Lagos State Governor and leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. They both work with zest and unison. Fortunately, they are both affable. At this point, we do not envy the feelings of those who see the relationship of this duo as a strong bone to crack. Unfortunately, we cannot help you.”
The statement further read: “We want to remind the author of the article that Professor Yemi Osinbajo has worked with Asiwaju for years without rancor. Not even an argument. This shows the extent these two personalities have collaborated in several stratas with the sole aim of ensuring good governance, empowering people, creating a good atmosphere in the society, enabling justice for all, etc.
“As the article rightly portrayed, both Osinbajo and Tinubu are from same political party. This is not an unfortunate conjunction but rather fortunate to have both widely loved individuals in same broom family, and the APC are happy and proud to have them.
“On the alleged meeting with Asiwaju abroad and his eventual return to Nigeria, we are amazed, saddened and quite surprised that the writer and purported ‘source’ is not aware of travel protocols and movement schedules internationally. We wonder how Senator Bola Tinubu quickly arranged his departure from the UK immediately he was told that the Vice President wanted to see him.
“We struggle to understand that this kind of story could be published by a national daily. We expect a better and decent information gathering before a report can be approved for publication.”
