Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has informed President Muhammadu Buhari that he will contest the 2023 presidential election, according to Daily Trust.
It was reported that Osinbajo told his principal that he will consolidate on his achievements after the expiration of his tenure which he has recorded so far.
Osinbajo hails from Ogun State in the South West Nigeria and was a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State during the tenure of Ahmed Bola Tinubu as governor.
A member of the ruling All Progressives, Osinbajo will be contesting with Senator Rochas Okorocha, Ahmed Bola Tinubu and others who could afford to buy nomination for forms.
This is amid intense pressure that the presidency be zoned to South East, which it was felt hasn’t tasted presidency since 1999. Lately, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Central Bank governor, Godwin Emefiele and Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi as well as Dr. Chris Ngige have also joined the presidential race.
Osinbajo’s interest for the plum job has been in the realm of speculations with different political and solidarity groups promoting his ambition all these while.
He was quites to have told President Buhari saying: “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.”
