By Sheriff Kosoko
When members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were fighting tooth and nail to elect a presidential candidate for the 2023 election, many unexpected events occurred.
As the party announced its sale of nomination and expression of interest forms, over 25 persons picked the N100 million form, despite its humongous cost.
It was quite intriguing how many party leaders, governors, former governors and others trooped to Abuja to pick up the forms in their bids to emerge the presidential candidate of the ruling party.
Top among the contenders was the APC National Leader and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who is seen by many as a beneficiary of Asiwaju’s ‘political magnanimity’.
Before the national convention, many people advised that Osinbajo should drop his ambition to support Tinubu, his political father; but the Ikenne-born legal practitioner insisted that he would run and indeed, he ran into the third position.
When the duo of Tinubu and Osinbajo declared to run for presidency, the Ogun State governor was in dilemma of who to support between the Jagaban and his kinsman.
However, Abiodun finally took a decision when he declared support for Osinbajo, saying he was the only one who was instrumental to his victory in 2019. Abiodun did this, probably forgetting the contributions of Tinubu to his election.
But, It appears the former Lagos governor was offended by Abiodun’s decision to pitch tents with Osinbajo. He did not hide his displeasure when he was in Abeokuta few days before the shadow election.
The septuagenarian spoke angrily and derogatorily against Gov Abiodun, reminding him of his incapability to become the State Governor when he contested against the anointed candidate of the former Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun in the 2019 gubernatorial election. He addressed the governor as ‘Eleyi’, which means ‘This one.
Many have said Abiodun should not be blamed too much; the Vice President hails from the same Ikenne Local Government with him. He couldn’t have abandoned his ‘brother’ for an outsider.
Even when Tinubu complained about Abiodun’s act of ‘ingratitude’, Abiodun did not bother to endorse the Jagaban; he only said the delegates would do the right thing.
After the back and forth, Tinubu won the APC presidential primary election with 1,271 votes. Osinbajo came a distant third with less than 300 votes.
After the victory, many have started throwing shades at the Governor over the loss of his preferred aspirant, the Vice President, reminding him of his fate if Tinubu eventually becomes the 16th President of the nation.
Moreover, during the primary election, many alignments were made, which saw the former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, stepping down for Tinubu. This sign of sportsmanship gave many discourse by the publics about what relevance remains for Gov. Dapo Abiodun with his unhidden support for Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who came third in the presidential contest.
Though Gov Dapo Abiodun has visited Tinubu to congratulate him and pledge his loyalty, many still.hold the opinion that the presidential candidate may find it hard to trust the governor, whom he claimed was enthroned by him.
As Senator Ibikunle Amosun stepped down for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, it is a known fact that tents are already being repitched in the state and more sacrifices and negotiations will definitely follow suit.
Many intriguing moments are still expected to surface, particularly in Ogun State even as Gov. Dapo Abiodun was declared winner of the gubernatorial election conducted in the State.
The gesture of solidarity offered by Ibikunle Amosun would be a determinant of so many things to happen as the 2023 general elections draw nearer in the Gateway State.
