Many people in Osun State received a surprise by Monday morning when they saw posters of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, flooding several places.
This is coming in spite of the interest that the All Progressives Congress leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is known to have in the 2023 presidential election.
Tinubu is more or less Osinbajo’s godfather, having appointed him his Justice Commissioner when he was Lagos State Governor, while he is also believed to have nominated Osinbajo for the vice presidency.
Only a few days ago, a group launched the Osinbajo 2023 agenda in Kaduna State.
Not long after, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of the state spoke about Osibbajo’s virtues in glowing terms, saying he was a bridge builder, when Osinbajo attended a programme in the state.
While Osinbajo had recently disowned a similar campaign poster, there is a permutaion that some political elements may prefer him if the next president has to come from the South.
They cited his loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari – although, some years back, he was thought to have been getting smarter especially when the principal was sick and was reveiving treatment abroad.
He was thus slowed down tactically.
Some of the elements that may opt for him could fear that Tinubu would be too powerful to handle if he becomes the President, based on his enormous political power, wit, wealth and connections.
How Osinbajo will handle the offer, if it comes and Tinubu is interested, is what obersvers will be eager to see.
In a report on Monday, ‘The Nation’ notes that the residents of Osogbo woke up to see the walls covered with posters, displaying Osinbajo for President in 2023
Areas, where the posters were spotted, include Oke Onitea Junction, Lameco, Oke-Baale, Ataoja Palace, Aregbe area, Dele Yes Sir, Abere, Old Garage, Orita Gbemu, Ogo-Oluwa, Gbodofon area, November 27 bridge, Ilesha garage, Ilesha garage, Housing Estate entrance and Ayetoro area.
The leader of the group that pasted the posters, Peter Ogundeji, told The Nation they were backing Osinbajo for the presidency because he is eminently qualified.
He said: “Our group, which has membership across various geo-political zones both young and old, re-established that the Vice President or any of his relations nor his staff members has a hand in how the organisation was formed or being run as we wholly a volunteer group.
“Whether Prof Yemi Osinbajo has shown interest to run for 2023 presidency or not, “Osinbanjo For All Volunteer Group “ remains firmly committed to its stance that Osinbajo has all that it takes to take our country it places in destiny comes 2023 and beyond.”
