In a dramatic twist, the national leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) weekend gave official recognition to a group working for the candidature of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari come 2023.
The VP’s supporters, under the name, Progressives Consolidation Group, have received approval of the APC leadership, through a letter by its caretaker chairman, Yobe state governor Mai Mala Buni.
The endorsement was contained in the letter titled, “Letter of Recognition As A Support Group,” dated October 4, 2021, which was signed by the Director, Administration of the APC, Abubakar Suleiman, and made public in Abuja.
The letter which was addressed to the PCG, read in part, “We write to inform you that the National Chairman, His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni has approved your recognition as a support group of the party.”
Addressing reporters as a result of the recognition, the head of the Progressive Civil Society Group, one of the sub-groups in the PCG, Mr. Bala Gide, explained that with this development, the PCG had been given the rare privilege of becoming the first to be so recognised.
“While we laud President Muhammadu Buhari’s forthright leadership and its populist direction which we expect an Osinbajo presidency to energetically sustain after 2023, we also applaud the focused forthrightness of the APC leadership ably led by Governor Buni.
“We deeply appreciate the widening mobilization and deepening support that PCG and all associated groups working towards an Osinbajo presidency; all our grassroots and national leaders, as well as current governors, federal and state lawmakers along with various labour and professional groups will have further significant roles to play post-2023.
The group appealed to the Vice President to yield to public demand by throwing his hat in the ring.
It promised that members would conduct themselves with decorum and respect all other aspirants who may wish to fly the APC flag in the presidential race.
However, this development is coming three days after another group, South-West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA) was launched by supporters of the APC national leader, Chief Bola Tinubu, also keen in getting the APC presidential ticket.
Indications have, however, shown that the APC national leadership has still to acknowledge Tinubu’s SWAGA, thus lending credence to hush talks that the presidency is not favourably disposed to the ambition of the former Lagos state governor.
Curiously, however, Tinubu is widely seen as Osinbajo’s political godfather, thereby making drama out of the seeming clash of ambitions.
It was also observed that in most public functions, the VP is being addressed by political admirers as “the Khalifa”, which translates as “the heir apparent”.
