2023: Why Obasanjo Won’t Support Tinubu’s Presidential Ambition – Osuntokun

Akin Osuntokun, former Political Adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, has said his principal will not support the 2023 presidential ambition of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In an interview with SharaReporters on Friday, Osuntokun said the reason Obasanjo will not support Tinubu’s ambition is that the former President wants equity and fairness.

Osuntokun revealed that he had told Tinubu straightaway that he would not support his presidential ambition in 2023, saying that he is supporting an Igbo presidency.

He said, “I told him specifically the last time I saw him that if the Presidency in their thinking is bringing power to the South, there is no excuse for depriving the Igbo the chance. Look, you have built a nation on shared aspiration and principles. I don’t know any interpretation of one Nigeria. If anybody says he is interested in the unity of Nigeria, it should not just be a vacuum decision; now we have an opportunity to do what is right.

“How do you justify Obasanjo’s eight years as President and (Prof Yemi) Osinbajo’s eight years as Vice President and you then take it back to the South-West? Is that fair; is that equitable?

“Look, he (Tinubu) has an advantage in the fact that he can more than finance the adventure, but first, my personal reference is what I have told you and I have told him.

“I heard that Buhari told him that he would not support a southern Muslim to succeed him. It is said that the Vice President in 2023 is coming to the North and would be a Muslim and the North has settled that; so, if you bring a Muslim from the South-West (Tinubu), you will bring a religious crisis to a country that is potentially volatile. Do you want to have a Muslim-Muslim ticket?

“I have told him straight out that I am not supporting him. And I told him face to face that I am supporting Igbo presidency. Former President Obasanjo would never support him. Rule that out completely.”