Vice President Osinbajo meets Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja

The Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) met with the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday.

The meeting is holding weeks after Tinubu’s return from London, United Kingdom, where he had undergone knee surgery.

With the rising request for a Southern President in 2023, reports have been circulating that Tinubu and Osinbajo might both be interested in the presidency seat although they are yet to declare any intention to contest the office in 2023.

There had also been insinuations that both men are not on talking terms but Babafemi Ojudu, Special Adviser on Political Matters to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in a recent statement had said attempts to cause conflict between Tinubu and Osinbajo would fail.

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Ojudu, who works in the Office of the Vice-President, said that “It is incumbent on me to state emphatically that neither the Vice President nor his office is aware of this or endorse this kind of a divisive engagement and news reports. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are members of same party. Osinbajo regards Tinubu as a respected leader of a political family to which he belongs and will therefore not for any reason endorse an endeavour that seeks to pitch them against each other.

“We are not unaware of some people who may want to foist a crack among our leaders. Such an attempt is abortive. Osinbajo and Tinubu’s relationship dates way back and it shall continue to wax strong.

“Let me, therefore, call on individuals and media houses engaged in this act to desist from doing so. The APC remains one single, indivisible party and Osinbajo remains a loyal member of the party who respects both the party structure as well as its leadership.

“Moreover, the INEC has not given a go-ahead yet for politicking towards 2023. As a law-abiding citizen, Osinbajo will not commence any act in this regard until INEC blows the whistle, and in any case, the VP has not indicated interest in the 2023 elections

“While appreciating individuals who are clamouring for him to contest, we however want to plead that they should not draw him or allow themselves into an unnecessary and precipitous controversy,” Ojudu had said.