Has Osinbajo overreached himself
At long last, the die is cast. What started as a rumour finally manifested in concrete terms on Monday, April 11, 2023. On this day, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, finally threw his hat into the ring to contest for the presidential primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). What is notable is that, he is contesting against his political benefactor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The declaration is the buzzing news in town at the moment and two words have been dominating the social media landscape ‘betrayal’ and “ambition” and like someone said, “what a week to declare, coming the same week that Judas betrayed Jesus.”
Reactions to the declaration have been more like bedlam. Truly, many had been expecting the vice president to make his presidential ambition public, since it has been a loud whisper for some time now. With the reactions, it would seem as if Tinubu and Osinbajo are the only major contenders for the APC ticket. And yet, we have Governors Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State; former Abia State governor and serving senator, Orji Kalu and former Imo State governor and senator, Rochas Okorocha, Transport Minister, Chibuike Amaech in the race.
Nigerians are still expecting Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to join the race.
However, the reactions are not unexpected. Osinbajo rose from Tinubu’s school of politics. As such, it was speculated that the vice president, in deference to the aspiration of his benefactor, who was the first to declare for the 2023 presidential race, would bottle his ambition.
However, politics, according to Alan Shoemaker, “is always concern with power.” In this sense, Osinbajo may have been propelled by the “awesome and sweetness of power.”
Truly, Asiwaju Tinubu brought out the professor of law from his teaching vocation at the University of Lagos, where he was a lecturer, by appointing him the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, from 1999 to 2007. A trusted aide, he was a member of the inner caucus of Ajiwaju throughout their time in office. Even after they left office in 2007 and Osinbajo returned to the classroom, he never left Asiwaju’s political orbit, reason why, when in 2015, a vice presidential candidate was being sought to pair with Muhammadu Buhari, his name naturally came up.
Surely, Osinbajo has all it takes to take over the leadership of Nigeria. As he himself posited, he was a commissioner in Lagos State for eight years. And being Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice under Tinubu was no tea party. That government took on the mighty Federal Government on numerous constitutional issues and won all. He has been the vice president for seven years, a position that has exposed him to the true structure and complexity of Nigeria. The few times he held the reign of leadership in the absence of Buhari, the economy and other issues seemed to react positively, which no doubt has won him many admirers across the country.
Questions are, however, being asked whether he has the needed political structure to mount a vigorous campaign to win the ticket of the party. Osinbajo has lived all his life in Lagos, where Tinubu is in firm control. As an indigene of Ogun State, he surely is not known politically in the Gateway State, neither does he have a hold on the governors or lawmakers of the party from anywhere in the country.
It has also been speculated that he may have “offended” his principal with some steps he took while in charge. Some have noted that this is the one reason why the president has refused to hand over the reign of leadership to him again.
The question may be asked, has Osinbajo over reached himself with this declaration? Was there any nationwide consultation before the step was taken? How far can the vice president go in this journey? Indeed, time will tell.
