‘Osinbajo Very Much Interested In Succeeding Buhari, Not Bothered About Tinubu’

Following the presidential bid declaration by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, speculations have emerged in some quarters claiming Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will drop out of the race to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

But an aide to the Vice President has now stated that Tinubu’s Ambition will not deter the Senior Advocate of Nigeria from contesting in 2023.

Recall that Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor and Osinbajo’s benefactor, had Monday declared his intention to pursue his ‘life-long ambition’ of becoming President.

He had told State House correspondents after meeting with Buhari that nothing ‘stops a kingmaker from becoming king’, adding that he is still consulting widely with stakeholders.

Speaking with Daily Independent on Tuesday, an aide to Osinbajo, who does not want his name mentioned, stated that despite the APC national leader’s declaration his principal is “very much interested in vying for the number one office in the country”.

He disclosed that Osinbajo is not in a hurry as he is patiently waiting for directives from President Buhari, who is the leader of the APC, on the way forward for the 2023 presidential election.

According to the source, 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.

“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,” he said.

“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.”