May 01, (THEWILL) – The ongoing cold war between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, seems to be spilling over to other politicians, monarchs and other highly placed individuals who have openly endorsed Osinbajo’s ambition.
Both Osinbajo and Tinubu, former buddies, are in contention to replace President Muhammadu Buhari after his tenure expires next year. While Tinubu’s foot soldiers see Osinbajo’s ambition as an aberration and a display of disloyalty to a man who propped him up politically, loyalists of Osinbajo insist that the Vice President owes no Nigerian, let alone Tinubu, any allegiance. They insist that he is old enough to be his own man without due recourse to his political godfather. Well, the latter’s argument seems to be playing out just fine in Osinbajo’s favour, judging by the number of people who are openly rooting for the Vice President, particularly monarchs.
During a visit to the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo during the week, to seek his support and that of other traditional rulers in his home state of Ogun, the monarch said Osinbajo had creditably acquitted himself in service to the nation and is therefore eminently qualified to be the next president.
“Every time the Vice President has gone for something competitive, he has always won. This will not be an exception. By the grace of God, our Vice President has paid his dues. He has gone through serving others and has been winning colours all the way. He is therefore eminently qualified to be the next president,” the Alake told him.
The import of Alake’s endorsement pales in comparison to that of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, who hoped that Osinbajo becomes President of Nigeria. While describing the Vice President as a wonderful person during a visit to his palace, the Olubadan said, “God will help you achieve your dream. Very soon, hopefully, in God’s name, you will be president of Nigeria.”
While this may look like just a rhetorical speech expected of a monarch, who should act the fatherly role to all, there is actually more than meets the eye with regards to the speech. Recall that THEWILL had exclusively published that during his installation ceremony, many dignitaries from far and near, attended the ceremony including presidential aspirants, Osinbajo himself and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, but Tinubu, who is supposedly a close friend of the Olubadan, was absent. The Jagaban of Borgu however preferred to send a representative in the person of Femi Pedro, his deputy when he was governor of Lagos State.
Tinubu’s absence at the ceremony spoke volumes. He willingly sacrificed his attendance at the ceremony, which would have been a morale booster for the new Olubadan, just to avoid being in the same space with Osinbajo. But even after the ceremony ended, Tinubu is still yet to pay the Olubadan a visit. But judging from the monarch’s tactical endorsement of Osinbajo, it is obvious where his heart lies on who to support in the tight presidential race.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
