S/West Battle: Tinubu Stuck In Lagos, Osun As Ogun APC Endorses Osinbajo

Yemi Osinbajo has beaten Bola Tinubu for the support of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State leaving the former Lagos State governor stuck with only two Southwest governors wholly committed to his aspiration.

GreenWhiteGreen GWG reports that Osinbajo and Tinubu had been in a race to win the support of the Ogun State governor given the collaboration between all three men in the fight against former Governor Ibikunle Amosun in 2019.

Some had expected Abiodun to be neutral given the role of the two men but GreenWhiteGreen GWG reports that in recent weeks that Abiodun had started throwing support albeit subtly for Osinbajo who is from the state.

On Tuesday, the governor openly came out as Osinbajo visited to formally inform major stakeholders in the state of his presidential aspiration.

Abiodun immediately pledged his support, and by that, denying Tinubu of a major swagger into the primary contest as being the major Southwest aspirant.

Ekiti and Ondo States are also not expected to support Asiwaju Tinubu. Governor Kayode Fayemi who had in recent years been a major political rival of Tinubu’s is expected to also declare his aspiration within days. His Ondo State counterpart, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu is generally expected to support him especially given Fayemi’s role in supporting his 2016 election.

The development leaves Tinubu with only two Southwest governors, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Gboyega Oyetola of Lagos and Osun States respectively chorusing the aspiration of the APC national leader.

Governor Abiodun disclosed his decision to back Osinbajo at the stakeholders’ meetings with the vice president held variously at the Akarigbo Palace Sagamu, the Alake Palace in Abeokuta, Palace of Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewaland and at the Presidential Lodge, Ibara, Abeokuta.

“The Vice President present here is home coming. We are pleased with his decision to run for the office of the president. He is competent and committed to lead the country in a higher capacity.

“Your steadfastness, integrity and character are all well known. You are serving this country and the president meritoriously for the last seven years as the vice president. We have no doubt that you will do well as the president and we will support you,” Abiodun stated.

Responding to the endorsement, Osinbajo said he consulted widely across the polity including with President Muhammadu Buhari, before making his declaration.

He said he was coming into the contest with the achievements he had made in the government’s judiciary reforms saying he had been positioned to tackle the country’s challenges in the areas of security and economy.

“The Vice President position is an opportunity to serve and I have served with utmost loyalty. I put everything into my work. I am a candidate who will hit the ground running when I am elected.

“I have the requisite knowledge to do the job and building on what others have put in place. My presidency will bring peace, unity and development to the country”, the Osinbajo said.

“After all I have learnt if called upon to serve the nation, should I say No? I have decided that I will run for the office. I have sworn an oath to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is an oath to our people, our children and the future of Nigeria. I owe nobody else any allegiance outside the oath”, he added.

The Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo commended Osinbajo on his aspiration.

The support from Abiodun for Osinbajo is one that is bound to reverberate negatively in the camp of Tinubu.

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