Even though Mr. Bola Tinubu has his own ambition to be VP, there are facts showing that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to pick Prof Yemi Osinbajo as his running mate was also influenced by key Northern leaders even across party divides.
There are facts indicating that the northern leaders held series of meetings and consultations before arriving at the choice of Prof Osinbajo the driving force being protection of Northern interest. They believe that Mr Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to contest in 2015 was said to be against the agreement the north had with him that he would not contest for a second term.
A source indicated that the reasons for opting for Prof Osinbajo basically are:
(1) He is less politically ambitious and is unlikely to threaten Buhari’s leadership.
(2) Osinbajo is a technocrat , and being from the South West, he is likely not to seek the post of the president incase Gen Buhari, at 72, becomes less active, due to old age, to lead the country.
The source also said that the three state governors, that is, Rotimi Amaechi, Adams Oshiomole and Rochas Okorocha were rejected by the Northern caucus because they believe the Governors could be over-ambitious the same way they see Mr. Jonathan.
The source said while the duo of Amaechi and Oshiomhole are politically ambitious, Rochas Okorocha could be worse. Okorocha is seen as a typical Igbo man who will be overbearing and driven by the zeal to outdo his boss. “If we support Okorocha, we fear that if Buhari wins, Okorocha will insist on succeeding him after his first term in office. We do not want a candidate that will renege and prevent the control of the presidency by the North”.
It is gathered that Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s name was among those still being considered for the post of Buhari’s running mate this morning. It is generally believed that Tinubu will overwhelm Buhari. Besides, he is a Muslim the source, who is close to the northern establishment stated.
The same reason the northern establishment has against Tinubu might as well be the reason why Tinubu will feel comfortable with Osinbajo as VP against the other political activists that surround him in case Tinubu is rejected.