It is becoming more clearer that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Bola Tinubu would clash over the ticket of the All Progressives Congress. The two men from southwestern Nigeria may be on the verge of clashing for the party’s ticket.
Neither the vice president nor the national leader of the APC has said that he would be contesting to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari. But the kinds of endorsements they are getting individually points to one thing. They can jostle for the APC ticket for the next presidency.
Mr. Yemi Osinbajo, who is not a typical Nigerian politician, can rely on the support of his principal. In the recent times, Osinbajo has become a more reliable to the extent that the close allies of Buhari are applauding him.
Osinbajo was in Daura for the installation of Buhari’s son, Yusuf, as a district head. The vice president was on ground in Katsina State to stand in for the president who was out of the country. The emir of Daura was happy and he showered encomium on the gentle vice president.
Likewise, a former military president, Mr. Ibrahim Babangida, has unconditionally thrown his weight behind the vice president. The retired general came out to open up on his decision to give support to the vice president.
The vice president would be looking up to support from northern region, most especially from northerners who believe so much in him. Whereas when it comes to real politics, Osinbajo may not be able to confront Tinubu at all. Tinubu would rely on the structure of the All Progressives Congress which he has built for long.
Tinubu can point at loyalists in the party. He has some governors, senators, ministers and other big names in the party, who would be ready to work for him.
A faction of the APC in Rivers State recently gave Tinubu a kind of endorsement. Likewise a caucus of the House of Representatives from north recently called Tinubu, “Mr. President”.
One thing that is clear is that if the two men finally show interest in the presidency, there is no doubt, there will be a clash. Osinbajo will look up to Muhammadu Buhari, while Tinubu can unleash his loyalists to clinch the ticket.
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