Recently, there was an outburst on social media between the supporters of Asiwaju Bolaji Ahmed Tinubu and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. This was due to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s declaration of interest of wanting to contest in the 2023 Presidential Election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and this made the supporters of the Jagaban of Lagos to feel that the Vice President had betrayed Tinubu, whom they believed to have contributed greatly to the development of his political career.
The social media was filled with all sort of posts condemning Yemi Osinbajo and Bola Tinubu, who may not even be aware of the abuses and curses their followers were raining on one another, although, most of the online conundrum that took place can be attributed to the attacking side, that is the Tinubuists, who were simply disturbing themselves over another man’s headache.
I sat down to think about why people were having a dispute over these politicians, I then laughed and asked myself, why would people who may be struggling to afford a three-square daily meal and other vital basic amenities in their enclaves suddenly become keyboard warriors, and engage in a war of words to defend politicians who may be after their political and personal interests? These politicians are only strategizing on how they can win the election and satisfy their personal emoluments.
Due to the proximity of the Easter celebrations, Osinbajo was described as a traitor and likened unto Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus in the Bible. This situation cannot be likened in anyway to the biblical story.
Osinbajo’s declaration of interest to run for a position that Tinubu similarly wishes to attain is not a betrayal. He is fully exercising his constitutional rights to vote and be voted for. He is not a political slave. Why should his political rights be sacrificed on the altar of godfatherism because someone contributed heavily to his political career?
A lot of Osinbajo’s supporters seem to be too duplicitous and insincere. They do not realise that he (Osinbajo) and Tinubu are birds of the same feather and together make a pivotal part of the Buhari Administration. Osinbajo was part of the government’s economic team that Tinubu helped orchestrate in this administration. Why should the masses support the same people emanating from a government we/they were displeased and dissatisfied with? How come we vilify Buhari for his incompetence and now see a saviour in his second in command? We are indeed our own problem in this country.
I believe that some day, Nigerians who have lost touch with reality will eventually get to back to their senses to see that these politicians are after their own selfish emoluments, and not for the upliftment of our dear country.
