Just as it happened in 2011 when residents of Lagos voted for APC candidate at the governorship election and voted for PDP’s Goodluck Jonathan at the presidential election, the 2023 presidential election may turn out so if Vice President Yemi Osibanjo emerges as APC’s presidential flag bearer.
In 2011, it was tsunami vote for Jonathan in Lagos and most of the states because he was loved by all Nigerians who saw him to be a man of great intellect and the first minority to lead the nation. The two years he served from acting to substantive president, he did exceptionally well and Nigerians wanted him to continue as president.
Although he was later rigged out when he ran for second term, many Nigerians are regretting for moving against Jonathan in 2015. The president mess the nation has found itself with the security situation, the cost of living and the hardness of President Muhammadu Buhari in dealing with alleged dissident Nigerians has made many to send apology letters to him, regretting their actions against him.
For the 2023 presidency, Nigerians are also of the belief that Vice President Yemi Osibanjo will be a great crowd puller if he emerges presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). This belief in him is not unconnected with his outstanding performance any time President Buhari is out of the country and power is handed over to him.
For the few days Buhari handed power to him in his first term, Osibanjo did exceptionally well and Nigerians felt relieved of certain economic challenges plaguing the nation until Buhari returns from his foreign trip, either on vacation, medical, or whatever.
Hence, it is believed that Nigerians across party lines and general masses will vote for Osibanjo if he emerges the APC flag bearer. As Lagos abandoned APC presidential candidate in 2011, it is also believed that if Osibanjo emerges presidential candidate of APC, members of PDP may abandon their candidate and vote for him.
Truly, Nigerians trust Osibanjo to lead the nation. Although he is quiet and appears unresponsive in the present situation of the nation, he has no much he can do because he is not at the driver’s seat.
