Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has been tasked with reconciling the presidential aspirants who lost the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary with the party and its candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Osinbajo was himself a presidential aspirant. He came third behind Tinubu and former Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi.
Osinbajo decision to contest in the primary pitted him against Tinubu, generally regarded as his benefactor, causing reported toxic relationship between the pair. Tinubu however visited Osinbajo the day after being declared winner of the primary election.
Following the successful reconciliation, Osinbajo has been chosen to mobilise the former presidential aspirants at a meeting scheduled for Abuja on Wednesday.
A statement issued on Thursday by the media team of APC’s youngest aspirant, Nicolas Felix reads: “The special invitation to the strategic meeting of all 2023 APC presidential aspirants, which will be held at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, on Wednesday, August 31st, 2022 by 2 pm is to brainstorm on adopting winning campaign strategies that will carry every Nigerian along and address the challenges bedevilling our country”.
The statement indicated that those expected include Osinbajo; Amaechi; former Science and Technology Minister, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; former Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Also expected are five serving governors Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Ben Ayade (Cross River) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).
Others are Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Senator Ajayi Boroffice; former Zamfara State Governor, Ahmad Sani; former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha; a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; fiery cleric, Tunde Bakare; Pastor and businessman, Felix; former Information Minister, Ikeobasi Mokelu; businessman, Tein Jack-Rich and the only female, Uju Ken-Ohanenye.
Tinubu has continued his mobilisation ahead of the presidential election campaign which begins on 28 September towards the realisation of a dream to be president.
He had met with some of the aspirants, and a few days ago skipped the annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association to meet with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in London in a bid to secure his support.
His camp described the meeting in London as “a necessary and important meeting”.
Although details of the meeting have not emerged, it was gathered that the ongoing schism in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has created an opportunity for both men to work together.
Wike has distanced himself from the PDP since June following his failure to clinch the party’s presidential ticket and Vice Presidential candidate position.
Tinubu met Wike alongside Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, among others.
