The All Progressive Congress (APC) has intensified its search for a running mate for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, its presidential candidate in the next year elections, even as the party is to announce its choice on Monday.
There are strong indications that the party may have settled for a former Lagos state attorney general and commissioner for justice, Prof. Yemi Osibajo, after series of its meetings with party stakeholders over the weekend.
Inside source told News Investigators that Osibajo, a South West Christian is highly favoured for the vice-presidential candidate slot by APC Leader, Mr. Bola Tinubu, since the party had jettison the idea of Muslim-Muslim ticket which would have produced incumbent Lagos governor, Raji Fasola.
According to the source, “Make no mistake about it, Tinubu holds the ace on who will be running mate to Buhari and has settled for Prof Osibajo . Some people felt he is not popular and not politician in the real sense of it.
“But that’s the real reason why he is preferred. Tinubu does not need a candidate that will later turn out to be a political nemesis to him in the zone. Osibajo has no such inclination, though, as vice president, he’s the leader of the south west politically, but he has no time for politics. His emergence will not erode the influence of Asiwaju in the zone,” the source explained.
It was further learnt that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who played crucial role in the emergence of Buhari at the party primary, has also been informed of the plan to announce the law professor.
Other candidates considered for the job were former Ekiti governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Rivers governor, Rotimi Amaechi and Governor Adams Oshiohmole of Edo.
“A good number of them were rooting for Amaechi, but those against his candidacy argued that the Yoruba sentiment for ‘visible presence’ must be factored in. If we say we are maginalised under Jonathan, what would then be the unique selling point of APC in the zone if not to have one of our own,” the source argued.
“The stakeholders believe the pragmatic step to take is to work on that sentiment to get block vote from the south west zone and at the same time promote the fact that the man is a Senior Redeemed Pastor in order to allay the fear of the so called extremist toga of Buhari among Christian northerners.”
