There are attempts to cause a rift between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This is according to President Muhammadu Buhari’s political adviser, Babafemi Ojudu.
Ojudu made the comments after two pro-APC groups endorsed either candidate during a TV programme on Sunday.
“It is incumbent on me to state emphatically that neither the Vice President nor his office is aware of this or endorse this kind of a divisive engagement and news reports,” Ojodu wrote in a statement on Monday.
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are members of same party. Osinbajo regards Tinubu as a respected leader of a political family to which he belongs and will therefore not for any reason endorse an endeavour that seeks to pitch them against each other.
“We are not unaware of some people who may want to foist a crack among our leaders. Such an attempt is abortive. Osinbajo and Tinubu’s relationship dates way back and it shall continue to wax strong.
“Let me, therefore, call on individuals and media houses engaged in this act to desist from doing so. The APC remains one single, indivisible party and Osinbajo remains a loyal member of the party who respects both the party structure as well as its leadership.
“Moreover, the INEC has not given a go-ahead yet for politicking towards 2023. As a law-abiding citizen, Osinbajo will not commence any act in this regard until INEC blows the whistle, and in any case the VP has not indicated interest in the 2023 elections.
“While appreciating individuals who are clamouring for him to contest, we however want to plead that they should not draw him or allow themselves into an unnecessary and precipitous controversy.”
Ojudu also welcomed Tinubu back to Nigeria after a three-month medical trip to the United Kingdom, while wishing him “good health, long life and prosperity”.
