The National Convener of the Osibanjo Grassroots Organisation (OGO), Sylvanus Foluso Ojo said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has not backed out of the 2023 presidential contest.
He said the VP, who according to him, Nigerians are trusting to reset the nation is yet to declare his ambition thereby he can’t back out.
The conveigner also urged supporters not to relent in rooting for the vice president until he declares his interest publicly.
While commenting on the report claiming that Osinbajo dropped his presidential bid, Ojo said: “The online newspaper attributed its source to an aide of the Vice President who allegedly overheard him telling close associates and members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) who paid him an unofficial visit some days ago at the Presidential Villa.
“The source was also quoted to have revealed that the Vice President had a change of heart following a visit to felicitate with the former Lagos State government and National Leader of the All progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at his Bourdillon, Lagos State home.
“As far as we know, the Vice President has not at any time publicly declared an intention to run as successor to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023; we are therefore alarmed that someone who had at different times clarified, that his present attention is to assist the President to deliver on their campaign promises to now be quoted to have jettisoned a bid he was yet to declare is inappropriate.
“Is this not like someone vacating a property not yet built? Our group has in a different forum enjoined Professor Osinbajo to indicate interest in the 2023 presidential bid, and he is yet to respond to this appeal; saying that he abandoned such ambition before a declaration, therefore, suggests that someone is confusing the public.”
OGO also noted that some elements are planning to dissuade Osinbajo from contesting.
“The Osinbajo Grassroots Organisation (OGO) considers this a mind game, and ploy to dissuade the Vice President from exercising his democratic and constitutional rights as a leader with unique leadership skills and robust management style, assuming he chooses to give our pleas a thought.
“Without doubt, Prof. Osinbajo holds Asiwaju Tinubu in high esteem and will not contribute in any way to bring him into disrepute or cause cracks between them; however, as a democrat, we believe that the former Lagos State governor will not shut the democratic door against Osinbajo should the VP decides to run for the President, and he will do this, without bitterness,” he said