All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and presidential sapirant, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in a handshake with Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, as Governors; Oyetola of Osun and el-Rufai of Kaduna watch during a meting, in Abuja, Monday
2023: Tinubu takes turn to host APC governors in Abuja
Barely 24 hours after Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo had held a closed-door meeting with members of the Progressives Governors’ Forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at his official residence, late Sunday, former Governor of Lagos and chieftain of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is now meeting with the state chief executives in Abuja, Monday.
Though details of the meeting are not yet known, it is however, believed to be in connection with his 2023 presidential interest, as well as the recent declaration by VP Osinnajo to contest the same office in next year’s election.
A source also informed Oracle Today that the meeting was supposed to have held on Sunday following the leak of the APC governors’ meeting with the VP by one of the invited governors to the Sunday’s gathering, who reportedly tipped off Tinubu.
It was also claimed that Tinubu hurriedly convened a meeting with the PGF members same Sunday. However, the PGF members turned down Tinubu’s invitation on the excuse that the VP’s invite arrived earlier to them.
Some of the state governors present as at the time of filing the report at the ongoing meeting with Tinubu include; Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna, and Simon Lalong of Plateau states.
It would be recalled that sequel to late Sunday’s meeting with members of the PGF of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his office at the State House, Abuja, the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo formally declared interest to contest the 2023 presidential ticket of the ruling party.
Prof. Osinbajo took to his verified Twitter handle (@ProfOsinbajo), Monday morning, to declare his intention to contest the elections against the likes Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Chubuike Amaechi who have already opened their campaigns to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in office, come 2023,
“I am today, with utmost humility formally declaring my intention to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of APC.
“At the direction of Mr. President, I have represented our country in several international engagements. I have been in markets, factories, schools, and farms. I have visited our gallant troops in the North-East and our brothers and sisters in the IDP camps.
“I believe that the very reason why the Almighty God gave me these experiences, these insights and these opportunities, is that they must be put to the use of our country and its great peoples,” the video statement published on his twitter handle read.
It would be recalled that VP Osinbajo, late Sunday, hosted members of the PGF, a body of state governors elected under the platform of the APC, to Iftar at his official residence, Akinola Aguda House, in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The VP reportedly used the forum to brief the governors on his political ambition ahead of the 2023 General Elections, even as he also sought their opinions to that end.
State Governors of Kaduna and Ogun, Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i, and Dapo Abiodun, were among those in attendance at the meeting.
Others in attendance included; Hope Uzodinma of Imo; Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and Gboyega Oyetola of Osun.
