Osinbajo: Why I withdrew my support, By Kayode Adebiyi

Early 2020, I called a friend who was quite close to the PYO camp. I asked what are the plans for him after 2023? I asked if PYO has any plan to contest for the presidency? I wanted him to contest hence my call to ask what the feeling is within the PYO office.

Of course, the person told me that you know PYO would not make such move considering BAT’s position and likely ambition to contest. I said I knew that and that’s why I am asking if PYO already received an understanding from his political mentor. My contact said not yet and that PYO was not even considering contesting, and if he was, he’s yet to discuss it with him/her.

I said I would call later in the year but if there is any new development please call me. By late 2020, I got some feelers on social media about PYO’s likely ambition. I quickly put a call through again to ask my contact how far? I was told; ohhh nothing like that. Those making noise are doing it by themselves. Nobody sent then. I said okay.

Then by 2021, I got 2 different messages from 2 different groups asking that I joined their platforms for PYO campaign group. The first question I asked both groups was, yes you can add me onto that group but I need to know if PYO has informed his mentor. One group told me that I should not worry that BAT would not contest so there is no need to worry myself.

I said, there is a difference between BAT would not contest and PYO has informed BAT. I need to know for sure if he has informed the man who nominated him to be running mate to PMB. They kept telling me not to worry everything is good. I said okay, I go wait.

Later, I called my contact again. I said I now belong to 2 PYO groups, are you still saying PYO, your principal is not contesting? I was told it’s not really here or there. Then, I told my contact, I want PYO to contest but I need to know if he/she was aware, as I was told by some groups that BAT would not be contesting. My PYO contact then told me I should know that PYO would not venture into going into that kind of massive project without the blessing of BAT.

At this point, I called one of the people I know in BAT’s camp to confirm if indeed PYO already informed BAT. It was strange to him. He said of course oga would be contesting and PYO cannot contest because he knows Oga would contest. He said that I should stop playing. He said don’t you know how close they are? I told him what I know and he said nobody has told Oga anything.

Few months later, all what I was told was don’t worry BAT would not be contesting. He’s not well. Nobody from the PYO camp can tell me categorically that PYO informed his mentor about his ambition and the BAT camp kept repeating it to me there was no contact. At that point I was no more satisfied with the situation.

I excused myself from one of the group platforms and my friend who invited me unto another removed me because it was glaring I am not favourably disposed to PYO’s aspiration at that point. Not because I don’t like him or he’s not qualified to contest but for the fact that nobody can categorically tell me that indeed PYO had gone to see BAT and informed him that he would be contesting.

Some of us are raised differently. I am a proud Ekiti man, loyalty and fidelity to a benefactor are part of the values I was raised with. I am not asking PYO to get permission from BAT. All I wanted him to do is go to him and inform him. You might ask why. Now, here is why.

Since PYO left government of Lagos State as Commissioner on the back of the same BAT, he went back to the practice of Law, lecturing and pastoring a branch of Redeem church in Lagos. He was never a politician before he was appointed Commissioner, and after his tenure, he returned into his non-political life.

Tinubu called you out of the blues to come on the ticket of Buhari because of the issue of muslim-muslim ticket in 2015 that would not allow Tinubu to run with PMB. You were not even part of all the struggle for the coming together of the legacy parties that led to the formation of APC. In fact, primary election was over and you were not in the picture. You were called to come and eat from an already prepared palatable meal.

Now, the least you can do for that man who called you about 7 years ago and handed over his right to be VP to you is to go to him, and possibly called Baba Akande and Osoba to be a witness and inform him that you want to contest having served for almost 7 years as VP. Of course, it is expected that they would be shocked because they know you are aware that your mentor has the plan to contest.

Obviously they would try to talk him out of the idea. But PYO has the right to refuse their persuasion not to contest. That’s all I needed. It would be on record that out of courtesy he went back to the man who handed him the position of VP on a platter of gold about his intention. That’s all he owed Tinubu. No one can force anyone not to contest!

PYO did not do that. If he did, let him openly give the time, date, month, year and the witness at the meeting and let Tinubu deny it.

If today BAT is now a corrupt, entitled and devilish man, as some of PYO’s supporters now see him, it is on record that God used that same man you now detest so much to raise PYO politically. First, as a Commissioner for 8 years in a state which is not your home state and also picked you to become the No 2 citizen of this country. That’s the most powerful office constitutionally in this country. If nothing at all, that man deserve a level of respect from PYO and his supporters who feels there is nothing wrong with his action towards BAT.

Finally, let me add this. I have it on good authority that 2 days to PYO releasing his declaration video, he called BAT. Apparently to tell Tinubu he wanted to release a video. Unfortunately, Tinubu did not pick the call because he felt it as an insult;
“se ti Yemi ba fe se President, ori phone lo ti ma so fun mi?”

See, I don’t have any problem for those who don’t see any big deal about all what I said I can not live with in this write up. That’s why we are wired different, we are all raised differently and our values are different. I am unapologetically a loyalist to any man or course I pledge fidelity to…I always remain committed to friendship and relationships. These are the values have lived with and would not change for anything in life. No man can built a great ideal on wrong and faulty foundation.

I am a true son of my father. I have seen my father stayed loyal and unrepentantly standing for what he believes in even at great discomfort. But at the end, you would be proud of yourself and what you stand for and no one can point an accusing finger at you for any betrayal or treachery.

– Adebiyi, a public affairs analyst writes from London