In what appears to be a deviation from an annual ritual, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and interior minister Rauf Aregbesola, have shunned the birthday celebrations of their political godfather and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.
In an unusual manner, the duo who served as commissioners during Tinubu’s tenure as Lagos state Governor, were mum on the former Governor’s 70th birthday in the public and also conspicuously missing at the colloquium held annually to mark his birthday.
Checks by POLITICS NIGERIA showed that Osinbajo and Aregbesola did not send birthday wishes to the national leader on social media as they have done in previous years.
Political analysts say the silence of the duo may be connected to the political intrigues ahead of the states and general elections. This news medium had reported how Osinbajo resolved to contest in the 2023 Presidential race shortly after Tinubu had indicated interest in the same office.
POLITICS NIGERIA also reported that the Vice President had informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his ambition.
On his own side, Aregbesola, who is believed to be one of Tinubu’s close allies, turned his back against the former Lagos Governor based on Osun state politics.
Aregbesola, who is also a former Osun State Governor, POLITICS NIGERIA learnt, was not in support of Gboyega Oyetola’s candidacy for the 2022 Governorship election in the state.
Meanwhile, Oyetola, backed by Tinubu, floored Aregbesola’s preferred candidate, Moshood Adeoti, at the APC primaries in Osun.
In fact, in the heat of the political fireworks, Aregbesola made a mockery of Tinubu’s health status by subtly referring to claims that the APC national leader peed on his clothes while on a courtesy visit to an Ogun monarch’s palace. However, Abdulmumin Jibrin, a former house of representatives member has dispelled rumours of a rivalry between the two.
He further stated that Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos, and Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo are “inseparable”.
Jibrin was referring to a supposed eulogy personally penned by Osinbajo to Tinubu, which he claimed showed that they maintain mutual respect.
“I believe Tinubu and Osinbajo are inseparable. I love the messages they sent to each other on their respective birthdays and I believe irrespective of politics and speculations, it came from their hearts. You cannot love any of them more than the love they share for each other,” Jibrin said on his verified Twitter handle.
Meanwhile, Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, said the Vice President intended to attend the annual colloquium but had to detour due to the terrorists’ attack on a train along Abuja-Kaduna railway route.
No fewer than eight persons have been confirmed dead while several others are receiving treatment.
“On his way to Lagos for the 13th Tinubu Colloquium marking former Lagos State Gov’s 70th birthday, VP had to detour to Kaduna this afternoon on receiving news of the extent of human & material losses occasioned by yesterday’s dastardly attack on the Abuja-Kaduna railway route,” Akande wrote on Twitter.
