As the rumble over Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s declaration to become president in 2023 gradually recedes, some Nigerians who spoke to Ijeoma UKAZU and Williams ABAH have given their assessment of the situation side-by-side the ambition of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, BAT, his political godfather, and accentuated Osinbajo’s constitutional right to vote and be voted for. Excerpts:
YOMI ROTSHAK: For me, I don’t think there is anything wrong with both of them declaring their presidential ambitions. If you are thinking that Osinbajo should have given way to his political godfather, Tinubu, you are missing the reality of the whole thing. For the fact that Tinubu brought Osinbajo into politics does not set aside Osinbajo’s constitutional right.
I even salute the courage of the vice president for declaring his intention to contest for president. If it were some weak, bread and butter politicians, they would say, since my boss is contesting for this post, I would not come out to contest for the same position.
If you make a comprehensive assessment of leadership recruitment in Nigeria’s political system, you would discover that majority of them, came to power through their godfathers, and that has made good governance difficult to reach the masses as those godfathers always influence the action of their godsons in whatever they are doing in the office.
For me, what I want in the build up to the 2023 general elections is that every contestant should be allowed to bring his personality to bear, in order to test his nobility before the Nigerian masses. Nigerian youth that are ready to come into political arena are scared because of how political godfatherism has been structured in our party politics.
Enabling space should be provided for everyone irrespective of their ethnic group or political association. What Nigerians need at this difficult time when our country is at the verge of collapse, is to get somebody who will rescue the nation from these shackles of insecurity and bad economy.
CHIBUZOR EBUKA: It is an interesting situation to see all these contestants coming out for president. As Tinubu and Osinbajo are set to contest for president, I think both of them are qualified for the job. Though it is not going to be easy. The battle will be tough between the two gladiators. But what interests me is the fact that they have been together from day one in their political journey.
So, they understand how the game is being played. For anybody to criticize Osinbajo for contesting alongside his boss Tinubu, is a miscalculation of ideas. We all know how politics is being played in the southwest where one man superintends over the entire political structure of the region. Nobody can erase the fact that Tinubu singlehandedly brought Osinbajo to Buhari to become his VP, but that does not in any way stop Osinbajo from contesting for president.
If there is any agreement between Osinbajo, and Tinubu, at the time when Tinubu influence his VP position, and such agreement was not in the interest of Nigerians, then Osinbajo has broken the jinx. There are other contestants from other political parties. So, it is not going to be easy in any side. It is not going to be business as usual. As we speak, each of the six geopolitical zones of the country has qualified candidates to contest for president, so the issue of zoning and godfatherism should be completely deleted from the scheme of things.
ADAMS AJAYI: That is a sign of disrespect and Osinbajo should not have declared his interest in running for the number one seat with his political father. It is like biting the hands that fed him.
In my opinion, Osinbajo should respect the man who brought him into politics and saw him emerge Vice President of Nigeria. This act of his shows betrayal and no regard for Tinubu.
A father shouldn’t contest with his son. Osinbajo knows that Tinubu is capable to lead Nigeria. He has all it takes to do that looking at his antecedents and I can say, he will deliver Nigeria.
KINGSLEY NNAJI: In my view, it is their constitutional right to go for the number one seat in Nigeria. At this stage, political father and son relationship should be kept aside and let the people’s choice emerge winner.
Though, in some quarters, some people are against the move of the Vice President, Osinbajo is taking but I strongly believe that he has great support from the electorates to see him rise to the seat in contest.
I would say that, both individuals can contest, they are within their rights and no one can change that fact.
