Tinubu, Osibajo, Oshiomhole Make VP Shortlist 14 Dec 2014 Tinubu,-Osibajo,-Oshiomhole-1214.jpg-Tinubu,-Osibajo,-Oshiomhole-1214.jpg Former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu; former Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Yemi Osibajo; and Governor Adams Oshiomhole By Olawale Olaleye As negotiations and intrigues continue in the effort to pick the running mate for the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, General Muhammadu Buhari, it has emerged that the long-speculated vice presidential ambition of former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu is still on the cards. THISDAY has learnt at the weekend that Tinubu, to whom Buhari may have conceded the privilege to recommend his running mate, has in addition to himself also presented for consideration former Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Yemi Osibajo, and Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, with a caveat that they are open to other ideas and candidates from the party in their efforts to forge a winning ticket for the presidential elections, ahead of Thursdays deadline for submission of nominations to the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC). Buhari emerged candidate of APC on Thursday after defeating Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, and newspaper publisher Sam Nda-Isaiah at the presidential primary held in Lagos. Series of meetings have been held by leaders of the party since Thursday to try to find a suitable running mate for the former Head of State. Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, his Rivers and Edo states counterparts, Rotimi Amaechi and Adams Oshiomhole, respectively, and Osibajo had, reportedly, been pencilled in for the vice presidential post. But the list has continued to be pruned and adjusted based on several factors, including geopolitical and religious configurations. But the Tinubu shortlist of Tinubu, Osibajo and Oshiomhole is expected before the party leadership today. Tinubu had always nursed the ambition of becoming a running mate to Buhari, but the idea of presenting a Muslim/Muslim ticket, in a country where the religious tensions have been made worse by the Boko Haram insurgency, continues to be a divisive topic had made that pairing a difficult one for APC. According to Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in an interview with THISDAY, the National Executive Committee of party appeared to have resolved not to allow the Muslim/Muslim combination for the presidential elections before last Thursday’s primary election. But the reappearance of the issue has surprised many APC stakeholders. Atiku confirming the disquiet in the party over the reappearance of the religious debate said, “In fact, the party passed a resolution at the National Working Committee that there would not be a Muslim/Muslim ticket. But to announce it, somebody is afraid to announce it. It is there on record. I don’t know. The NWC of the party passed a resolution that there would not be a Muslim/Muslim ticket. So, go and announce it.” Tinubus supporters in the party leadership are alleged to have ensured that the NWC’s decision on a Muslim/Muslim ticket was kept under wraps. Now that Tinubu has rekindled his interest in the office, it has become difficult for the APC leadership to pick a vice presidential candidate outside of himself. Moreover, the party feels somewhat indebted to Tinubu due to his role in the emergence of Buhari as the APC presidential candidate. The APC national leader is said to have been instrumental to the assembling of the bloc votes from the South-west and other geopolitical zones that aided Buhari at the primary. In fact, Tinubu is said to be particularly against Amaechi’s nomination for the vice presidential position because the governor was the first party man that had confronted him at a meeting to shelve the idea of a Muslim/Muslim ticket because it would hurt the party. Amaechi had insisted that the party should pick a running mate from among Christians in the South to ensure geographical and religious balance. But there are other dimensions to the difficulty trailing the attempt to choose a running mate for Buhari. THISDAY learnt that the Progressive Governors Forum, an association of APC governors, wants one of its own as running mate. And members of the New Peoples Democratic Party, the group that had staged a walkout from the mini convention of Peoples Democratic Party on August 31 last year to form a new party, are also seeking to be given a real stake in APC by being considered for the position of vice president. The APC governors are arguing that they were the ones that actually mobilised the funds and delegates that made Buhari’s candidacy possible and deserve to be compensated. New PDP members also seek compensation for the sacrifice they made to swell the ranks of the opposition party. One of the arrowheads of the New PDP demand is Senator Bukola Saraki, who is believed to be eyeing the post of senate president next year, should APC win majority of seats in the upper chamber. APC has until December 18 to submit its vice presidential candidate for next year’s election to the Independent National Electoral Commission. There are fears the party may not meet the deadline if the current controversy lingers. A top APC source told THISDAY, “It is still very contentious ... But that is not a problem because we might just put in a dummy candidate and still explore the chances of a peaceful resolution of the matter within the 30 days we have for substitution.” Another national officer said, “The reason this has become so contentious is because it is clear to every member of the APC that the chances of seizing power next year is very likely. In fact, it is a 60/40 ratio in favour of the APC, so, everyone now sees an opening to make history, especially since Buhari who becomes 72 years of age in three days on Wednesday 17th December, is seen by many as a one-term president. So whoever is his running mate stands a chance of becoming president should the APC win the next elections.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 06:45:03 +0000
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