Monday’s declaration by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former Lagos State governor, that he will run for the presidency in 2023 on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will not deter Vice President Yemi Osinbajo from also contesting, Daily Indepen­dent gathered.

Speaking with Daily Independent on Tuesday, an aide of vice president said his principal is “very much inter­ested in vying for the number one office in the country”.

He, however, said unlike Tinubu, the APC national leader who went to President Muhammadu Buhari to in­form him of his intention to contest for the presidency in 2023, Osinbajo is waiting for di­rectives from President Buhari, who is the leader of the APC, on the way forward for the 2023 presidential election.

The source, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media, added that the vice pres­ident enjoys a lot of goodwill from Nigerians who believe that he is the best candidate who can sustain the legacies of the present administration and even do things better.

He said those claiming that Tinubu beat Osinbajo by declaring for the presidency were wrong because “the vice president has no declaration to make unless authorised by the president.

“The vice president is very much interested in contest­ing. From what we have seen, many Nigerians, including key figures in the political and corporate world, believe that he is the best to succeed President Buhari.

“I know the impression many people have is that be­cause his benefactor, Asiwaju has declared interest to run, the vice president will perish his ambition. But that is not true. The vice president will contest but he will not jump the gun.

“Right now, he is waiting for directives from President Muhammadu Buhari. If in­deed the president wants him as his successor and gives him his blessings to contest so as to continue with the programmes of the administration, he will not turn down the request”, he said.

No Aspirant Is Better Placed To Succeed Buhari Than Osinbajo — Supporters

Meanwhile, jolted by Asi­waju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration on Monday to run for 2023 presidential election, supporters of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have said their commitment to the nation’s number two is not being doused in any way.

The various support groups in different statements released in Abuja said they are con­vinced that no aspirant is better suited to succeed President Mu­hammadu Buhari and pursue the policy of the party than the vice president.

According to OPS4Osinba­jo, a support group consisting of members of the organised private sector, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is far better, in­tellectually equipped than any current presidential aspirant for the task of leading Nige­ria’s economic rejuvenation towards future greatness.

“With Osinbajo, Nigeria’s organised private sector has much basis for optimism about post-2023 economic activities,” the group’s spokesman, Alhaji Abdulrahman Farouk, stated in Abuja.

Osinbajo’s candidature offers much hope for citizens who have high expectations about job creation, increased earnings and growth, the group said adding: “Even though an aspirant has informed Muham­madu Buhari about his 2023 ambition, the most credible op­tion still appears to be Vice Pres­ident Yemi Osinbajo and for the organised private sector as well as the citizenry, Osinbajo offers much fertile ground for hope to rapidly germinate.

bolaayenimo:
Interesting times ahead. What if Umahi is Buhari's candidate to placate Igbos?

bolaayenimo:
Interesting times ahead. What if Umahi is Buhari's candidate to placate Igbos?

Halopy:
The truth is Osinbajo is Buhari's plan A and Jonathan is Buhari's plan B.

IamPatriotic:
We will have to condone more of fabricated stories of this nature in the days ahead, journalism mixed with pettiness, emotions and falsehood will be at its heights in the polity. It's therefore left for the audience to separate lies from truth

piggyyeasterner:
It is Maxi Bola Ikemba Tinubu or death

Halopy:
The truth is Osinbajo is Buhari's plan A and Jonathan is Buhari's plan B.

yanabasee:
So, Osinbajo is now answerable to Buhari.... But he was formerly answerable to the game master who placed him below Buhari....


His loyalty shifted and this is a terrible move for a supposed president....

Also, Waiting to be told what to do means he's going to be a puppet as a president...


We need a man that will never be controlled by any cabal or group of people....



Tinubu!!

piggyyeasterner:
It is Maxi Bola Ikemba Tinubu or death to your family