Babafemi Ojudu, political adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to alleged rift between the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo and the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
While assuring that there is no rift between the duo, Ojudu further stated that Osinbajo and Tinubu are in the same political family.
The former senator also clarified that the vice-president will not make any political move, until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) blows the whistle.
In a statement titled: ‘2023 presidential election: No to divisive politics; attempts to foist a crack between Osinbajo and Tinubu will fail,’ Ojudu said there is no gulf between the leader and the vice president.
Ojudu noted the reports and a live television programme where “two persons supposedly representing Asiwaju Support Group and Osinbajo Support Group were pitched against each other.”
He said: “The INEC has not given a go ahead yet for politicking towards 2023. As a law abiding citizen, Osinbajo will not commence any act in this regard until INEC blows the whistle, and in any case the VP has not indicated interest in the 2023 elections.”
Ojudu clarified that “neither the Vice President nor his office is aware of this or endorse this kind of a divisive engagement and news reports.”
Ruling out any friction, Ojudu said:”Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are members of same party. Osinbajo regards Tinubu as a respected leader of a political family to which he belongs and will therefore, not for any reason endorse an endeavor that seeks to pitch them against each other.”
He added:”We are not unaware of some people who may want to foist a crack among our leaders. Such an attempt is abortive. Osinbajo and Tinubu’s relationship dates way back and it shall continue to wax strong.
“Let me therefore call on individuals and media houses engaged in this act to desist from doing so. The APC remains one single, indivisible party and Osinbajo remains a loyal member of the party who respects both the party structure as well as its leadership…
“While appreciating individuals who are clamoring for him to contest, we however want to plead that they should not draw him or allow themselves into an unnecessary and precipitous controversy.
“We welcome our great leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu back into the country. As a great democrat himself, he will certainly welcome politics without bitterness and divisiveness. We wish him good health, long life and prosperity.”
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