The convener of the United for Osinbajo Presidency says Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has the support of President Muhammadu Buhari to run for president.
Paul Adama was speaking on Wazobia FM Kano's programme, 'We Tori Dommot.' He is believed to be a part of the vice president's inner circle.
“One advantage the vice president has over other candidates is that he has the president’s backing.
“The president has made up his mind that his deputy has the interest of Nigerians at heart, and will continue wherever he stops,” he said in Pidgin English.
Mr. Adama also stated that all governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and some from the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have pledged their support to the Vice President.
He also advised against criticising the vice president for the wrongs of the Buhari government, since his role as the number two man is ceremonial.
“You know the Nigerian constitution doesn’t give the vice president absolute power.
“There are many things the vice president can’t do unless approved by the president.
“You might be shocked to know the president is the one who makes some key appointments in the vice president’s office,” he explained.
The Wait for Osinbajo’s Declaration
The vice president formally declared his intention to run for Nigeria’s top job on Monday, after months of rumours that he was interested in succeeding President Buhari.
The declaration was contained in a recorded video published on Professor Osinbajo’s social media handles.
I am today, with utmost humility formally declaring my intention to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of APC. pic.twitter.com/atggfEnF2Q
— Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo) April 11, 2022
Sources tell Nigeria Info that the vice president initially planned to make his declaration in January, but was waiting for the president’s endorsement which hadn’t come at the time.
He has spent the time between then and now lobbying state governors who are powerful in Nigerian politics and often determine who wins in party primaries, both in their states and at the federal level.
His Monday declaration came after he was satisfied with the result of the months-long lobbying.
Indeed, his announcement to run for president was made a day after he had a meeting with about 10 of the governors elected under his party, including Governor Dave Umahi who had earlier declared he wanted the top job.
Professor Osinbajo stands a good chance of emerging as the APC’s presidential candidate if he has the backing of governors and the president like Mr. Adama told Wazobia FM Kano.
