As if his role in ensuring Buhari came to power, his old age, and health condition hasn't made him a bad product in the eyes of most Nigerians ahead of the 2023 presidential election, the current attack by Tinubu's supporters against Osinbajo following his declaration to run for the presidency, would not only spell doom for the APC, but also for Tinubu's own ambition, according to Professor Hafiz Abubakar.
Abubakar who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and a former Deputy Governor of Kano State, warned that the dangerous campaign launched by Tinubu's supporters in hope to bolster Tinubu's chances of winning the APC ticket over Osinbajo, by digging up dirts against him, would end up backfiring.
He said while he understands that in politics, rivals try to market themselves while demarketing their rivals, in the case of vice president Yemi Osinbajo, care must be taken in doing so since undermining his achievements, would amount to undermining the achievements of the Buhari administration. This he said, would be like telling Nigerians that the APC, the party he hopes to represent in the next election, has failed.
“Asiwaju’s campaigners are playing a risky game that the party and administration should call them to order on,” the APC chieftain said in the statement.
“Attacking the VP’s official capacity and his achievements in the same APC government is tantamount to ‘biting one’s nose to spite one’s face.’
“Asiwaju’s lieutenants are denigrating their own party and their own government,” Abubakar said.
“The same way Asiwaju has a right to aspire so does anyone else in the country, especially a sitting Vice President with Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s credentials and record.”
Abubakar said the attacks on the vice president’s character, person, economic responsibility, and religious affiliation are quite deplorable.
“Let us have a contest of ideas for the ticket of the party, not a contest of backbiting, libel, and name-calling,” he said.
“Asiwaju should call his people to order and exercise the leadership he is known for. This approach is a red flag on him and it is a black eye on the party, the president, and administration at large.
“You cannot attack the vice president and not be attacking the president or the administration.
“It is disappointing and party leaders and the new NWC should take charge in the discussions to avoid a dampening of the party’s fortune.”
Abubakar urged Tinubu and his team to work together with everyone to support the party and government to achieve its goals in the time left, and “not throw stones in a house that they helped build.”