Reconciliation of Presidential Aspirants: I have nothing against Osinbajo, I will work with others — Tinubu

By Moses Adeniyi

As moves continue for reconciliation of presidential aspirants who aspired for the presidential ticket to run as the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Presidential candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has said he has forgiven Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and has nothing against him.

Recall Vice President Osinbajo had also contested for the ticket of the ruling party, emerging third among the aspirants, an aspiration which many condemned to be a breach of trust against his widely believed political godfather, Tinubu.

Meanwhile, Tinubu in Kano on Wednesday, while addressing some political support groups loyal to Osinbajo during the APC presidential primary, said he has nothing against the Vice – President, assuring them that he will work with everybody.

Tinubu who said a man who asks forgiveness from God, must be willing to forgive others, noted that he visited the Vice-President at his house after the primary election, and also interacted with him during the ministerial retreat.

“I have nothing against him. I have been to his house after the primaries. I have seen him on the day of the goodwill message at the retreat organised by the President.

“And a man who forgives a man who asks for forgiveness from Allah fully deserves forgiveness. If you cannot  forgive, how are you asking from Allah? To me, it is over,” he said.

During a meeting, Coordinator of the Drone Marshall Support Group, Alwan Hassan had urged Tinubu to work with Osinbajo and other presidential aspirants who ran against him at the primary election on the June 08 presidential primary of the party.

“We made consultations with your friends and even your enemies.

“Sometimes, all of them speak of one good quality about you. Most of them have agreed that you stood out as being patient and forgiving whosoever offends you in politics.

“We want to see more of public participation between you and the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and all other aspirants that contested against you. You are the candidate, you have won,” he said.

Hassan assured that all the group will work for the APC candidate.

Recall that aside from Osinbajo, key among other 13 presidential aspirants who vied for the ruling party’s presidential ticket included the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and his Kogi State counterpart, Yahaya Bello.

Osinbajo, who many believed is a political protege of Tinubu, served as Attorney General and Commissioner for justice when Tinubu was Governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007.

Recall, Nigerian NewsDirect had reported that on the Tinubu/Shettima candidacy, the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu had said reconciliation of presidential aspirants of the party, who lost in the primary, to join forces with the party’s effort to emerge victorious in the 2023 presidential election was still a work in progress.

It has been observed that some key party members including the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and former Transportation Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who were frontline contestants of the race have been observed to be silent over the party’s push for the presidential contest.

Adamu who spoke at a media parley last Thursday in Abuja, however said while he could not state particularly the position of these Aspirants, yet confirmed their relevance to the process was significant to boost the chances of the Tinubu/Shettima candidacy.

On the commitment of Osinbajo, Lawan and Amaechi, Adamu had said, “To the best of our knowledge, they are keying into this project. However, each of the aspirants at the convention is still alive and as journalists, you owe it a duty having observed or having the state of mind that requires knowing where they stand today.

“It will be a bit absurd for me to start talking to them about things I feel you have not seen or heard from them. As for reconciliation, it is still a work in progress and we have been doing it. We have been talking to them and these guys are still very much around the political space. You can ask them whatever your observations are.”

The silence of frontline contestants over the party’s presidential race for the 2023 General Elections had generated concern.

While Osinbajo was excluded from the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) list which surfaced, both Lawan and Amaechi were enlisted as advisers.