The reports indicate that Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo has informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his presidential ambition.
According to Daily trust Newspaper, Osinbajo told Buhari of his desire to take over from him in 2023 so as to consolidate the achievements they recorded since 2015.
Quoting a source, the newspaper added: “Certainly, VP Osinbajo has told the president that he wants to succeed him. The vice president 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 misconstrued.
According to another source, Buhari was not surprised when Osinbajo approached him over his ambition.
The source said: “Buhari smiled in his usual characteristic manner…he listened to the VP carefully and while responding, he gave him the green light and wished him well without giving him any commitment or assurance of supporting him ahead of other contenders.
“He blessed the intention just the way he blessed Tinubu when he visited him in the Villa and unveiled his plan to vie for the presidency. And I think the president is being careful. Remember what he said while granting an interview to a national television.”
Earlier, the vice president's spokesperson, Laolu Akande, said Osinbajo will officially communicate his stance on whether he will contest the 2023 presidential election or not.
Akande while fielding questions from journalists at the State House said Osinbajo is focused on supporting President Muhammadu Buhari in his aim to address challenges faced by Nigerians.
His words:“Well, like he has said up to this time, he is committed to the work that he is elected as vice president and to support the president.
“That is what he is focused on now; and like I have also said in my last tweet, whatever will be his activities or whatever he would do will be communicated officially."
Akande noted that having served as vice president for seven to eight years now, Osinbajo believes in the notion that the kind of governance Nigerians desire is founded on the heart of justice and service.
He said:“He often says in most of the meetings that we hold that the reason why we are here is that people put us here.
“We are here in the interest of the people; so, he is someone that is committed to that notion of service to the people, whether in government, whether as a pastor, whether as a lawyer.
“In every aspect of his life, he understands very diligently the idea that we are here to serve.’’
Meanwhile, the convener/team leader of an advocacy group for Osinbajo/ Zulum-2023 APC ticket under the platform of Credible Alliance for Better Nigeria (CABN), Ahmed Lamidi Badanga, has explained why Vice President Yemi Osinbajo should succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
In this exclusive interview on Thursday, February 18,Badanga, who was also the convener/coordinator of the "Vote Buhari" 2015/2019 online election mobilization campaign platform, added that Osinbajo and the governor of Borno state, Babagana Zulum have what it takes to take over the mantle of running the affairs of Nigeria from President Buhari in 2023.
Speaking on the convocation of the advocacy group, Badanga said that CABN was not formed on the basis of either the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or any political party in the country.
Badanga said that the vision of the group is to canvass for credible capable,smart, physically and mentally endowed leaders that would help to navigate through many challenges currently facing Nigeria, adding that "these qualities'' are found in both Osinbajo and Zulum.
He also noted that at this point in time when the country is confronted with numerous challenges, it is wise to support a man like Osinbajo who, according to him, is an intellectual, versatile, smart technology-savvy leader that providence has chosen for the task of redefining the destiny of Nigeria.
According to him, these qualities manifested within the shortest period that Osinbajo acted as president of the federal republic of Nigeria when the president travelled abroad.
He maintained that Osinbajo would get the party's ticket if he contest against his political godfather, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at the party's primary.
According to him, CABN believes that the post of president is open to all Nigerians including Tinubu, stressing that their support group is an ideology and principle-based with think-tank that has done a lot of homework and consultations before arriving at the choice of Osinbajo.
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