PHOTOS: Osinbajo meets Tinubu after UK medical trip

Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), on Friday, met with the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The meeting is held weeks after the ex-Lagos governor returned from London.

Tinubu returned to Nigeria on October 8, after spending months in London where he underwent knee surgery.

The APC chieftain had expressed his appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as other political leaders, who visited him while he was in London.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Kayode Fayemi, and Rotimi Akeredolu, governors of Lagos, Ekiti and Ondo, respectively, as well as Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, were also among those who visited the APC chieftain.

Speaking at a meeting with his associates after his return from the UK, Tinubu had said only God can decide when his life will end.

“I’m a little emotional now, but I’m happy. God is the giver of life and the only one who can take life,” he had said.

There have been speculations over possible rancour involving Tinubu and Osinbajo in relation to the 2023 presidential election, even if none of them has formally declared interest in running for the presidency.

However, several groups have declared support for both men to run for the number one seat.

Osinbajo had visited Lagos for the commissioning of the Duchess International Hospital on October 22, but it is not clear if a meeting with Tinubu was scheduled at the time.

With the rising clamour for a Southern President in 2023, there have been reports that Tinubu and Osinbajo might be individually interested in the presidency seat though both men have yet to declare any intention to contest the exalted office in 2023.

There had also been insinuations that both men are not on talking terms but Babafemi Ojudu, Special Adviser on Political Matters to the President Muhammadu Buhari, in a recent statement had said attempts to cause conflict between Tinubu and Osinbajo would fail.

In the statement, Ojudu, who works in the Office of the Vice-President, had said Osinbajo and Tinubu are members of the ruling party and both men welcome politics without bitterness and divisiveness.

He had also inferred that there is no conflict of political interests between the two politicians.

 “It is incumbent on me to state emphatically that neither the Vice President nor his office is aware of this or endorse this kind of a divisive engagement and news reports. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are members of same party. Osinbajo regards Tinubu as a respected leader of a political family to which he belongs and will therefore not for any reason endorse an endeavour that seeks to pitch them against each other.

“We are not unaware of some people who may want to foist a crack among our leaders. Such an attempt is abortive. Osinbajo and Tinubu’s relationship dates way back and it shall continue to wax strong.

“Let me, therefore, call on individuals and media houses engaged in this act to desist from doing so. The APC remains one single, indivisible party and Osinbajo remains a loyal member of the party who respects both the party structure as well as its leadership.

“Moreover, the INEC has not given a go-ahead yet for politicking towards 2023. As a law-abiding citizen, Osinbajo will not commence any act in this regard until INEC blows the whistle, and in any case, the VP has not indicated an interest in the 2023 elections

“While appreciating individuals who are clamouring for him to contest, we however want to plead that they should not draw him or allow themselves into an unnecessary and precipitous controversy,” Ojudu had said.

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