VP Osinbanjo and Sanwo-Olu in Lagos
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has not endorsed Babajide Sanwo-Olu in
the Lagos All Progressives Congress governorship primary scheduled for
Monday.
Contrary to the impressions created by a photograph that shows the
Vice President with Sanwo-Olu, Osinbajo is neutral in the election.
He merely came to plead with the party leaders to allow a level
playing field for the two contestants, including the incumbent Akinwunmi
Ambode.
According to a statement by Osinbajo’s office, Osinbajo yesterday
attended a meeting of the Lagos State General Advisory Council, GAC,
where he had been invited by the elders on the council.
Before the meeting, the Vice President who had been in Lagos to
participate in the Presidential primaries in the State had met with
Governors Akin Ambode and the APC National Leader Ashiwaju Ahmed Bola
Tinubu.
APC gubernatorial aspirants Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Obafemi Hamzat
were also at the premises of the GAC meeting ahead of the Vice
President’s arrival.
At the GAC meeting, Prof Osinbajo, who is believed to be supportive
of a second term bid for Ambode, conveyed the view of the Buhari
presidency that there should be a level playing field in the overall
conduct of the primaries.
Informed sources at the meeting said the purpose of VP’s attendance
at the GAC was to report on a previous meeting held between him and Gov
Aregbesola on how to resolve some of the outstanding issues around
Governor Ambode‘s second term bid and its fallouts.
“It was while he was coming out of the meeting that Mr.
Sanwo-Olu and Mr. Hamzat took advantage of the VP’S presence to take the
photos which are now being falsely paraded as proof of endorsement.
“The VP did not go to endorse the candidate, they only took advantage of his presence,” a source at the meeting confirmed last night.
-NAN