Presidential Declaration: Osinbajo Not My Son, Tinubu Declares

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is not his son.

He stated this on Monday in Abuja, in an interview with newsmen shortly after meeting with 12 APC governors.

The meeting at Kebbi Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro in Abuja, came hours after Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo joined the 2023 presidential race.

Since 1999, Tinubu and Osinbajo have enjoyed a cordial political relationship. The latter served as the attorney-general of Lagos from 1999 to 2007 when the former was the governor of the state.

It is widely believed in some quarters that Tinubu nominated Osinbajo as President Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in 2015 as part of the political bargaining that led to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

On Monday, the vice-president unveiled his presidential bid after months of speculation and denial — meaning Tinubu, who declared his bid back in January, will have to square up against Osinbajo, who is regarded as his “political son”.

Shortly after Osinbajo declared his presidential ambition, Tinubu met with 12 APC governors in Abuja. Osinbajo, it was learnt, had earlier held a similar meeting on Sunday night.

Asked to comment on the declaration of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who is seen by many as his political son, for presidency, Tinubu simply said, “I don’t have any son grown up enough to make such declaration.”

Speaking with the press after meeting with the governors, Tinubu said: “My mission is to seek collaboration, support and encouragement of my party — the APC for my ambition and mission to become the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governors who met with Tinubu are Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna; Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state; Simon Lalong of Plateau; Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano; Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi; Mai Mala Buni of Yobe; Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos; Hope Uzodimma of Imo; Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa; Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa, and Gboyega Oyetola of Osun.