Buhari , Osinbajo , Abiodun I put you in power-Tinubu

Former Governor of Lagos , Asiwaju Bola  Ahmed Tinubu, who is a  presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress(APC) for 2023 presidential election , said on Thursday that he made Muhammadu Buhari President of Nigeria, nominated Professor Yemi Osinbajo as his running mate, and got Mr. Dapo Abiodun elected as Governor of Ogun State.

Tinubu insisted it was his turn to be president. Analysts are of the view that Tinubu may have decided to go for broke, after sensing he may be losing the opportunity to achieve his ‘lifelong ambition’ to be president of Nigeria.

“The  outburst in Abeokuta today is a sign of frustration with the refusal of President Buhari to endorse him publicly. It is significant that he said what he said in the home state of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, another frontline contender for the APC ticket”, an observer who pleaded anonymity noted. 

Tinubu’s assertions came as Osinbajo hosted the national chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and five governors of the ruling party.

He tackled  Governor Abiodun, for not supporting his political ambition.

Tinubu who stated this  on Thursday at a meeting with delegates of the APC in Abeokuta, the Ogun capital, said that  the APC did not want to give the governorship ticket to Abiodun in the build-up to the 2019 polls.

According  to him , there was crisis in the APC prior to the 2019 elections over the refusal of Ibikunle Amosun, who was completing his second term as governor of Ogun at the time, to support Abiodun as his successor.

Amosun, who had supported another aspirant, was later suspended by the party.

Speaking on the circumstances surrounding the issue at the time, Tinubu said he did much to ensure the success of Abiodun at the polls.

“That one (referring to Abiodun) that is sitting down here, could he have become governor without me?

 We were all in the stadium where they tore all the posters. Even the candidacy of the party, they didn’t want to give it to him,” the APC chieftain said in Yoruba.

“It’s been over 25 years that I have been serving them. This one sitting at my back, Dapo, could he have become a governor if not for me?

“If he wants to hear, his life will be long. If he wants to meet God in his position, he would admit that he wouldn’t have become governor if not for God and I.”

Recall that  in April , the  Ogun State Governor had  stated that  the state would support Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s presidential ambition to enable him to continue with some of the laudable projects of the regime of the President Muhammadu Buhari.

Abiodun disclosed this when he and other members of the State Executive Council accompanied Osinbajo to the palaces of some prominent traditional rulers in the state in continuation of the Vice President’s campaign ahead of the presidential primary of the APC.

Abiodun said Osinbajo, in the last seven years, had contributed to the many successes recorded by the Federal Government, noting that “he is eminently qualified to lead the country.”

He said, “The Vice President’s presence here is homecoming. 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.”