Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), on Friday, met with the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The meeting, which is ongoing as of press time, is holding weeks after the ex-Lagos governor returned from London, United Kingdom, where he had undergone knee surgery.
With the rising clamour for a Southern President in 2023, there have been reports that Tinubu and Osinbajo might be individually interested in the presidency seat though both men have yet to declare any intention to contest the exalted office in 2023.
There had also been insinuations that both men are not on talking terms but Babafemi Ojudu, Special Adviser on Political Matters to the President Muhammadu Buhari in a recent statement had said attempts to cause conflict between Tinubu and Osinbajo would fail.
In the statement, Ojudu, who works in the Office of the Vice-President, had said Osinbajo and Tinubu are members of the ruling party and both men welcome politics without bitterness and divisiveness.
He had also inferred that there is no conflict of political interests between the two politicians.
“It is incumbent on me to state emphatically that neither the Vice President nor his office is aware of this or endorse this kind of a divisive engagement and news reports. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are members of same party. Osinbajo regards Tinubu as a respected leader of a political family to which he belongs and will therefore not for any reason endorse an endeavour that seeks to pitch them against each other.
“We are not unaware of some people who may want to foist a crack among our leaders. Such an attempt is abortive. Osinbajo and Tinubu’s relationship dates way back and it shall continue to wax strong.
“Let me, therefore, call on individuals and media houses engaged in this act to desist from doing so. The APC remains one single, indivisible party and Osinbajo remains a loyal member of the party who respects both the party structure as well as its leadership.
“Moreover, the INEC has not given a go-ahead yet for politicking towards 2023. As a law-abiding citizen, Osinbajo will not commence any act in this regard until INEC blows the whistle, and in any case, the VP has not indicated interest in the 2023 elections
“While appreciating individuals who are clamouring for him to contest, we however want to plead that they should not draw him or allow themselves into an unnecessary and precipitous controversy,” Ojudu had said.
(Punch)
