By John Okafor
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has finally explained to President Muhammadu Buhari of his intention to succeed him as from May 29, 2023.
It was gathered at the weekend that Prof Osinbajo gave President Buhari reasons why he stands to be the best aspirant to succeed him after the expiration of his tenure in 2023.
Insoute of being reminded of allowing aspirants from the South-East to occupy the post in the interest of national cohesion, Osinbajo insisted his ambition is just to consolidate the achievements Buhari recorded since he took over the mantle of leadership from the opposition PDP in 2015.
Osinbajo, it is obvious, the he has made up his mind to square up with his erstwhile alter ego, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who had also told Buhari of his intention to succeed him.
Aside from Tinubu, reports are replete that the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi; the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Kayode Fayemi, and the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige would join the race.
Also, the Senate Chief Whip, Dr. Orji Uzo Kalu, and Sen. Anayo Rochas Okorocha have equally declared their interest on the platform of the APC.
Some aspirants from the North in the same party are also squaring up for the ticket, even as the zoning of the APC national offices clearly disqualified them from participating in the party primary for the presidential ticket.
According to a source: “Vice-President Osinbajo has informed the president that he wants to succeed him.
“He had first consulted some prominent Nigerians who encouraged him to vie for the presidency and they also encouraged him to tell the president himself.
“They told him not to allow a third party to tell the president so that the ambition will not be given different interpretations”.
It was gathered that when Osinbajo approached the president over the ambition, Buhari did not express any surprise.
“Buhari smiled in his characteristic manner. He listened to the Vice-President carefully and gave him the green light and wished him well.
Though Osinbajo, a lawyer, politician and pastor, has already secured the tacit support of his Redeemed Christian Church of God, where he is a Pastor.
The Church had last week set up a Political Group aimed as encouraging its members to join politics and aspire for political offices.
Aside from the Redeeemed, several groups have been moving round the country and sponsoring adverts in print and broadcast media urging Osinbajo to contest.
