Politics

2023: Why Osinbajo Is Absent At Tinubu Presidential Campaign Rallies – Shettima

Published

3 years ago

January 20, 2023

Editor

With a few weeks to the commencement of the 2023 general elections, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has been accused of holding grudges against the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

This is coming from the National President of Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, AYCF, Yerima Shettima.

Osinbajo has been noticeably absent from Tinubu’s presidential campaigns so far, unlike President Muhammadu Buhari.

Recall that Osinbajo endured a frosty relationship with Tinubu during the APC presidential primaries in 2022, as followers of the latter believed that the Vice President should have backed his political godfather.

During the APC primaries, some staunch supporters of Tinubu had tagged Osinbajo a traitor, a betrayer and Judas, for daring to stand against the former governor of Lagos State.

One of such supporters, Tolu Babaleye had said: “This is the week that Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ in the Christian calendar. Same week Osinbajo betrayed Tinubu. Same week is not a mere coincidence. May God be with Tinubu in Pilates’ Court.”

Recall that Joe Igbokwe, the Special Adviser for Drainage and Water Resources to Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu, had also subscribed to the notion of a betrayer.

“Is this how we will pay Asiwaju for helping to lift us up? This monumental betrayal has no part 2. I am totally diminished as a mortal who understands very well the meaning and the power of loyalty,” he said then.

Speaking on Osinbajo’s absence, the AYCF President, Shettima, said Tinubu does not deserve the kind of treatment he gets from President Muhammadu Buhari and Osinbajo.

Shettima accused Osinbajo of holding grudges against Tinubu since his defeat at the APC presidential primary election.

He said Buhari and Osinbajo should come out boldly if they are against Tinubu.

He told DAILY POST: “It’s very unfortunate that in recent times things have not been going well; however, Tinubu does not deserve what he’s getting from Osinbajo and Buhari; no matter how bad it is, he has paid his dues and has stood by them. He deserves better than the support they are giving to him.

“If they are truly with him, they should demonstrate it; if they are not, then they should openly come out and say so. When Obasanjo was in power, in 2006, we could see his body language on how he worked day and night to stand by Yar’ Adua.

“He had gone out of his way to campaign for the presidential candidate. Even in the absence of the presidential candidate, Obasanjo was moving around campaigning because he was willing to ensure that his successor came into power.

“This time around, the President and the Vice President are sitting on the fence, even the governors are not sincere.

“Some of these APC governors are not sincere, that is why it would be difficult for the APC presidential candidate, Tinubu, to rely on these governors, they may disappoint him because theirs is to negotiate even with the opposition. He should go down, liaise and be discussing with Nigerians, CSOs, and organisations and not rely on governors.

“Tinubu has less than five governors with him, the others are just supportive. The earlier he moves and changes strategy, the better for him.

“His running mate, Shettima should move and do better than he’s doing in the Northern part of this country; people are not feeling his impact. The 2023 election has gone beyond propaganda.

“There is a crack in the APC because Osinbajo has never campaigned, he has never gone anywhere. He still holds grudges; power is given and taken by God. If truly he’s a man of God, he should have known that what is not yours can never be yours. If it’s not part of his destiny, it can never be his.

“That was how God wanted it, there is no reason to hold any grudges. Look at what Amaechi, Osinbajo, and others are doing; it tells you there is a crack in the APC.

“I’m calling on Tinubu to rise up to the occasion and not to over-rely on those governors.

“He should get down to the people within this short period and see what will happen. If he’s relying on governors, he will be shocked at what will happen. He should change strategy and method by ensuring all his followers are on their feet. For Osinbajo, he has shown that he’s not with Tinubu.”
DAILY POST

Related Topics:#Osinbajo #Tinubu APC Shettima

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Politics

2027: Nobody Wants Fubara – Wike

Published

34 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that there is widespread support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to return in 2027.

Speaking during his monthly media parley on Wednesday in Abuja, Wike suggested that Fubara can’t claim to enjoy unanimous backing from the public.

He explained that the political crisis in Rivers State had earlier been addressed through the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, particularly during impeachment proceedings initiated against Fubara.

According to Wike, the President advised all parties to embrace peace, leading to the withdrawal of the impeachment move by the State House of Assembly after agreements were reached.

Wike, however, alleged that the governor failed to fully adhere to the terms agreed during the arbitration process.

Reacting to claims that the people were urging Fubara to seek re-election in 2027, Wike rejected the assertion, insisting that such narratives were misleading.

Wike maintained that appearing before the President for arbitration required respect for the outcome, noting that all parties were expected to uphold their commitments.

He said: “The President, intervened in the impeachment proceeding. I said withdraw, let their be peace. And the governor said, look, I’m ready for peace. Look, I’m no longer interested for this. I will not do this. The Assembly went and withdrew the impeachment.

“Having withdrawn the impeachment, he is now too smart on what you agreed before the President. It’s like when you go on arbitration.”

Wike continued, “This one is what I don’t like. Nobody wants anybody. Please, don’t tell me that. Excuse me.

You can go and tell that to the market people or children. Two years that people say he should come out. Who told you that?

“Which politician will say that I was sleeping they came and woke me? Even if people people come to wake you, can’t you say, no, I won’t do it. I’m not prepared for it.

“That you appeared before a President of the country on arbitration, the two parties on arbitration, and these people respected Mr. President, and have done their own part.”

Politics

2027: Wike Opens Up On Preferred Rivers Guber Candidate

Published

41 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday said he hasn’t endorsed any candidate for the Rivers state gubernatorial election in 2027.

Wike stated this on Wednesday during his monthly media parley in Abuja.

Wike said that the endorsement will come only after a meeting by the joint coalition in the state.

He said: “I haven’t endorsed anybody. And I can’t endorse anybody until the joint coalition meets.”

DAILY POST reports that questions have been raised concerning the fate of current governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, in 2027.

The FCT Minister was reported to have endorsed former State Commissioner for Works, Alabo Dakorinama George Kelly, as his preferred candidate for the Rivers State governorship election.

Sources told DAILY POST that Wike settled for George after a closed-door meeting with key political stakeholders in Port Harcourt on Monday.

Politics

Open Bank Account In PDP Name, See What Will Happen – Wike Dares Turaki Faction

Published

46 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday challenged the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, faction led by Tanimu Turaki to open an official party bank account and secretariat if they truly believe they control the opposition party’s structure.

Speaking with journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, Wike accused some party leaders of misleading Nigerians and violating court judgments in the lingering leadership crisis rocking the PDP.

The former Rivers State governor insisted that the faction opposing the party’s recognised leadership lacked legal standing and could not lawfully operate the affairs of the party.

“You cannot continue to deceive Nigerians. If they are sure they are the authentic leadership of the PDP, let them open an official PDP account and tell party members to pay nomination fees into it,” Wike said.

He specifically challenged Taminu Turaki, SAN, and other leaders of the rival camp to test their claims by opening a bank account in the name of the PDP.

“Let Turaki, as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, open an account for the PDP. Let them announce it publicly for members who want to contest elections. That day, you will see what will happen,” he stated.

Wike argued that no bank would recognise such an account because the faction allegedly lacks the legally recognised party structure and documentation required to operate.

“That bank will be in trouble because to open such an account, you must provide the party’s authentic documents and recognised leadership. Who has those documents?” he queried.

The FCT minister also warned against attempts to establish what he described as illegal party offices, vowing that any action capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in Abuja would not be tolerated.

“If anybody goes ahead to open an illegal office in the name of the PDP in Abuja, I will seal it. I will not allow any breach of peace because my duty is to maintain law and order in the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.

Wike maintained that court judgments had already settled the dispute over the PDP leadership and convention issues, accusing some actors of twisting judicial pronouncements for political convenience.

“People should stop deceiving Nigerians. The judgments are clear. You cannot ignore court decisions and begin to create parallel structures,” he added.

The minister further dismissed claims that the Supreme Court ruling favoured the rival faction, insisting that the legal processes and decisions available supported his position and that of the recognised party leadership.

According to him, attempts to reinterpret the judgments outside the established legal context were aimed at confusing party members and the public.

Wike said he remained a committed member of the PDP and was only defending what he described as constitutional order and due process within the party.

PDP has remained embroiled in internal leadership disputes following disagreements over the party’s convention, caretaker arrangements and recognition of key national officers ahead of the 2027 general elections.