Reports that Nigeria’s Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) will not contest in the 2023 presidential election has been rubbished.
The Osinbajo Global Movement, a pro-Osinbajo group described such report as false, according to Punch.
The group’s spokesperson, Chukwuma Azuka, in a statement on Tuesday, urged Nigerians to disregard the report described as a “worthless piece of article issued in bad faith and taste.”
The statement was titled, ‘Osinbajo never denied ambition for Presidency, group tells Nigerians.
Azuka, said, “The reports are complete falsehood and fabrications from the imaginations of the Vice President’s perennial detractors who are intimidated by Osinbajo’s glowing political profile.
“We in the Osinbajo Global Movement have predicted this move a long time ago which is why we are not shocked. For us, we know Osinbajo is contesting and will declare soon.
“Credible intelligence at our disposal points to elements working tirelessly to misinform people with the view to damping their hopes that Osinbajo will join the 2023 presidential race.
“Why they chose this route remains a mystery to us. We, on our part think democracy is about inclusion and freedom of choice. We then wonder why anyone or group thinks it’s good strategy to discourage people – especially Osinbajo’s supporters, from supporting him for the exalted office.
“We noticed there was a deliberate effort to misconstrue a statement from Osinbajo’s spokesperson, Laolu Akande, who said VP is only focused on the tasks he’s elected to do. This cannot mean Osinbajo is not interested in running for the office of President except one is just being plainly dishonest.
“We need not remind Nigerians that as a sitting Vice President, Osinbajo enjoys the right of first refusal when it comes to the All Progressive Congress ticket. So, the obviously fabricated report that he can deny his ambition shows the desperation of some of these integrity-challenged politicians.
“We urge Nigerians to completely disregard this worthless piece of article issued in bad faith and keep it where it truly belongs – the trash bin.”