Over a week ago, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo declared his intention to run for the position of the President at the 2023 Presidential Election. This declaration got a lot of hailing and wailing from Nigerians, which revealed that not all Nigerians were likely to be in favour of him clinching the presidential title.
The election period is becoming more imminent than ever and the primaries are set to commence to determine who ultimately becomes the presidential candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC). The question is “How Far Can Osinbajo Go?”. Does the vice president actually stand a chance? Will he scale through the primaries? Will Nigerians massively show support for him and vote him in during the general election?.
Osinbajo will be facing a tough competition from other personalities interested in becoming the party’s candidate at the primaries. He will be challenging the likes of Rochas Okorocha, Asiwaju Bolaji Ahmed Tinubu, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Alh. Yahaya Adoza Bello and Dr. Chris Nigige. Bola Tinubu seems to be more of a bigger threat, considering his mastery in the game of politics. He may be unmatched considering his political shrewdness. Will Osinbajo beat these big names to become the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC)?
Osinbajo is a part and parcel of the Buhari Administration. He has played a pivotal role in the country’s leadership. But do majority of Nigerians who will vote at the elections have any form of desire in him. A majority of Nigerians detest and villify the Buhari Administration due to the hardship it has brought to the masses on the mantra of change. Osinbajo was a member of the economic team setup by the Buhari Administration and still, we witnessed economic turmoil, gross mismanagement and misappropriation of public funds, worsened insecurity crisis and a nearly rendered pauperized health and educational sector. Osinbajo in his declaration speech said he would like to continue from where his presumed soon-to-be predecessor stopped. Does he want to build on the disaster done by the Buhari Administration?
A lot of his supporters are of the opinion that Osinbajo with his wealth of knowledge and experience will appoint merited technocrats, bureaucrats and scholars that can make decisive decisions to get the country back on its feet. Why didn’t he use his wealth of knowledge and experience to effect a change in governance. How possibly can/would Nigerians entrust him with the mandate of reviving the country?
Alot has also occurred these past few months aimed at denting support for the vice president. He has been accused of betrayal by supporters of Asiwaju Bolaji Ahmed Tinubu, after he declared his interest to contest for same position which the Jagaban of Lagos also had interest in. But he (Osinbajo) was simply his fundamental human rights, which is the right to vote and be voted for, but the makers of mischief chose to make something out of this. He has also been accused of being a religious fanatic and for plotting a “stealth christianization agenda”. Some Nigerians, most especially Muslims, who have come across the articles indicting Osinbajo of religious bigotry withdrew their support for him.
Is there any hope of Osinbajo emerging as the preferred candidate of the party and also, winning the election with all these obstacles on his way? Time will tell if the electorates want an Osinbajo presidency.
