LAGOS – The South-West chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may isolate Vice President Yemi Osinbajo if he decides to pursue his presidential ambition in 2023 on the party’s platform, Daily Independent has been reliably informed.
One of the leaders, who exclusively spoke with Daily Independent on Wednesday, said it will amount to the “greatest treachery in the history of the South-West” if Osinbajo decides to square up against his benefactor and leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former Lagos State governor and APC national leader.
Tinubu on Monday informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his decision to run for the office of President in 2023.
While describing his desire to occupy the highest political office as “a lifelong ambition”, Tinubu, however, said he had not publicly disclosed his ambition to Nigerians as he was still in consultations with various interest groups across the country.
On the part of Osinbajo, even though several groups across the country have been calling for him to run, he had said he is focused on his job now as President Buhari’s deputy and will decide on whether he is going to contest at the appropriate time.
When asked if Osinbajo will also inform President Buhari as Tinubu did, one of his aides told Daily Independent that his principal is very much interested in vying for the number one office in the country.
The aide, who said Tinubu’s declaration won’t stop Osinbajo from contesting, however, said unlike Tinubu, who went to Aso Rock Villa to inform the president of his intention to contest, Osinbajo is waiting for directives from President Buhari on the way forward for the 2023 presidential election.
Speaking with Daily Independent, a leader of the South- West APC who is a close associate of Tinubu said they are keeping their fingers crossed and waiting for the vice president to make his bid known before taking action.