Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has reportedly informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his intention to contest for the 2023 presidency.
Daily Trust reports that credible sources close Osinbanjo confirmed that the Vice President has informed Buhari of his desire to succeed him upon the exploration at of his tenure in 2023.
The Vice President’s move is described to be an attempt to consolidate the achievements the current administration has recorded since 2015.
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There are fears the no public disclosure of Osibanjo’s ambition could dampen his chances of succeeding Buhari.
If the reports are true, Osibanjo will struggle for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress with his godfather, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who months ago visited the Presidential Villa to informed Buhari of his intention to succeed him.
“Certainly, VP Osinbajo has told the president that he wants to succeed him,” one of our sources said.
“The vice president had first consulted some prominent Nigerians who encouraged him to vie for the presidency and they also encouraged him to tell the president himself.
“They told him not to allow a third party to tell the president so that the ambition will not be misconstrued,” he said.
Another source said when Osinbajo approached the president with the story, Buhari was not surprised.
“Buhari smiled in his usual characteristic manner…he listened to the VP carefully and while responding, he gave him the green light and wished him well without giving him any commitment or assurance of supporting him ahead of other contenders.
“He blessed the intention just the way he blessed Tinubu when he visited him in the Villa and unveiled his plan to vie for the presidency.
“And I think the president is being careful. Remember what he said while granting an interview to a national television.”
Another source said recent happenings indicated that Osinbajo will “Definitely slug it out with Tinubu and others for the APC ticket.”
He said, “The projection in certain quarters that the VP will not contest against Tinubu is now over. The two of them who are from the South West would confront each other.
“They both have their support bases but Tinubu, of course, is more of a politician than Osinbajo. He has more support base across the country but that notwithstanding, the truth is that whoever the president supports would surely have an upper hand,” he said.
Reports are rife that the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele and Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, are all gearing to vie for the presidency even as the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige had said he would soon join the race.
Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzo Kalu, and Senator Rochas Okorocha have all declared their interest in the presidency on the platform of the APC amid speculations that some aspirants from the North would soon join the race.
