By Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has congratulated his erstwhile political benefactor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu following the latter’s victory at the recently concluded presidential primary of the party.
Osinbajo, who was also a presidential hopeful, came third after polling 235 votes. Tinubu, however, clinched the APC ticket with 1,271 votes, while his closest challenger, the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi got 316 votes.
It would be recalled that the Vice President fell out of favour with the former Lagos State governor under whom he served as Attorney-General following his decision to contest for president, a move considered to be a betrayal to Tinubu who had claimed he nominated Osinbajo as President Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in 2015.
Since Tinubu’s victory on Wednesday, a barrage of congratulatory messages have trooped in within the APC and beyond. While other aspirants in the race hailed the APC presidential flagbearer, Osinbajo however maintained silence, in what many assumed to be a snub.
After 24 hours, the Vice President issued a statement on Thursday, to congratulate his former boss, saying the APC leader’s sterling contributions to Nigeria’s democracy and its progress stand him out.
The statement read, “I congratulate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory at our party primaries and his emergence as the Presidential Candidate and Flagbearer of our great party, the APC for the forthcoming 2023 Presidential Elections.
“I also congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari and all leaders of the APC for a successful Special Convention and Presidential Primary.
“For many decades, our Flagbearer has shown passion, patriotism, courage and determination in the cause of nation-building. His sterling contributions to our democracy and its progress stand him out. His wealth of experience will certainly be critical in our party’s continued efforts to attain a more secure and prosperous Nigeria.
“To all members of our great party, regardless of who you voted for at the primaries, we must now unite behind our Presidential Candidate and Flagbearer to ensure victory for our party in the 2023 elections.
“As true progressives, we must remain strong and united in pursuing our collective vision as a party toward building a country that can provide a decent life and livelihoods for all our people.”
