2023 Presidency: Osinbajo's support group challenges other aspirants on popularity

Editor

Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, a support group within the ruling All Progressives Congress APC loyal to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Progressive Consolidation Group (PCG) has said its members are unperturbed by the growing interest of some APC chieftains in aspiring for the nation's plum job.

The group's declaration came barely 24 hours after after a former Lagos State Governor and leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared his interest in the presidential race.

While both Tinubu and Osinbajo are known to be political allies, the Ebonyi state Governor, Engr. Dave Umahi had on Tuesday also declared his interest in vying for the presidency.

However, the PCG said "no declaration by any number of aspirants can douse the patriotic passion associated with those championing the cause of an Osinbajo presidency in 2023".

According to the PCG Chairman, Dr Aliyu Kurfi, plurality of candidates and political parties are necessary for a robust democracy and a rich array of strong contenders will only deepen the legitimacy of Osinbajo’s eventually victory.

“As genuine democrats who believe in the progressive ideals that Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo stands for, we welcome others into the race because we strongly believe that a plurality of candidates and political parties only enhances the robustness of our democracy.

“As I once stated, every well-informed Nigerian knows that PCG is the very first 2023 support group to be formally recognized by our progressive party, APC, and we have never sought to prevent or discourage others from following in our footsteps because Vice-President Osinbajo will not subscribe to dirty political games that some typically desperate politicians play.

“We are mobilisying for Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, a man who believes in the rule of law, a man who is a democrat and a great progressive too; nothing in his antecedents ever speaks of anti-democratic standards.

“Therefore, we do not only welcome the declaration by an aspirant; in fact, we anticipate having half a dozen more, so that Osinbajo would emerge from a very rich array of choices offered to the nation by the APC.

“The nature of the political competition that we envisage shall be one characterized by politics without bitterness. To this end, all members of pro-Osinbajo groups have been instructed to address other aspirants with courtesy and avoid getting drawn into the usual mudslinging that characterized Nigerian politics.

“As to the chances of success, we are very confident that Osinbajo will enter and win the race by virtue of all his good qualities and citizens’ expectations to see him build on the foundation laid by President Muhammadu Buhari,” Dr Kurfi stated.g