The national leader of All progressive congress, APC Bola Tinubu has reacted to Yemi Osinbajo’s declaration for 2023 presidency.
DAILY GIST had reported that the vice president of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Monday declared his ambition to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023
Tinubu while reacting said he has no son grown enough to declare for the 2023 presidential election.
The reaction came a few hours after Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo joined the presidential race.
Since 1999, Tinubu and Osinbajo have enjoyed a cordial political relationship.
Osinbajo served as the attorney-general of Lagos from 1999 to 2007 when Tinubu was the governor of the state.
It is widely believed in some quarters that Tinubu nominated Osinbajo as President Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in 2015 as part of the political bargaining that led to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
On Monday, the vice-president unveiled his presidential bid after months of speculation and denial — meaning Tinubu, who declared his bid back in January, will have to square up against Osinbajo, who is regarded as his “political son”.
Shortly after Osinbajo declared his presidential ambition, Tinubu met with 12 APC governors in Abuja.
DAILY GIST learnt that Osinbajo had earlier held a similar meeting on Sunday night.
Speaking with the press after meeting with the governors, Tinubu said: “My mission is to seek collaboration, support and encouragement of my party — the APC for my ambition and mission to become the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
Asked to react to the presidential declaration of his “son”, the former Lagos governor said he has no son grown enough to join the presidential race.
“I have no son grown enough to declare,” Tinubu responded when asked about Osinbajo’s declaration
The Kebbi State Governor and the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Atiku Bagudu, also refuted claims that Osinbajo’s declaration pits him with his political godson.
According to him, the development shows the quality of persons in the ruling APC.
“The fact that we have people in our party that express desire to lead the party into the highest office in electoral contest shows how much this our party has resonated with Nigerians and our party members,” the governor said.
2015, Tinubu sought to run with President Buhari but was asked to nominate to avoid a Muslim/Muslim ticket.
The APC co-founder then selected Osinbajo, his former Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice.
Many believe with his declaration, the Professor of Law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) has drawn the battle line with Tinubu while others are saying it’s a politics game
The governors who met with Tinubu are Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna; Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state; Simon Lalong of Plateau; Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano; Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi; Mai Mala Buni of Yobe; Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos; Hope Uzodimma of Imo; Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa; Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa, and Gboyega Oyetola of Osun.
