Special Features
Tinubu VS Osinbajo: Betrayal Or Fair Game?

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s declaration to contest the presidency has raised a lot of dust across the country.
The Nigerian Vice President in the early hours of Monday caught many unawares when he posted a video on his Twitter handle expressing his intention to contest against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, his long time principal and as many Nigerians would describe the relationship between the duo, “his political godfather”.
Tinubu had in January 2022 informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his intention to succeed him, while also consulting important political figures and groups over three months. Osinbajo had been quiet for a long time even as different groups and personalities mounted pressure on him to join the race.
Osinbajo was appointed by Tinubu in 1999 as the Attorney-General and Commissioner For Justice, Lagos state when the latter served as governor of Lagos state. Osinbajo’s appointment by Tinubu started his political career, and for many years, he has enjoyed the support of the APC national leader.
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Many have compared the shocking declaration to the Biblical Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus Christ.
Judas, who later regretted selling his master for 30 pieces of silver, tried to return what he had been paid and ended up taking his own life. In Matthew 27:3-5, Judas tells the chief priests and elders to who he sold Jesus, “I have sinned for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied.
Today, the day picked by the VP who is also a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God is the day that Judas betrayed Jesus in the Christian Calendar.
Many have wondered whether it was a coincidence that the pastor who proudly shows his deep knowledge of the Bible chose this historical day to “betray” his former boss and political benefactor.
Hundreds of APC supporters and some Nigerians have condemned the VP’s declaration stating that he displayed a gross act of disloyalty to a man that brought him up politically.
Among those who condemned Osinbajo’s action is Reno Omokri, a former aide of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. He advised Buhari to watch out for his right-hand man to avoid being stabbed in the back after the 2023 elections.
He said, “Wow! So, Osinbajo is declaring? If Osinbajo can stab Tinubu, who God used to make him what he is, in the back, then Buhari better hopes he never becomes President. Backstabbing is a habit. If Osinbajo can backstab Tinubu, he can definitely backstab Buhari after 2023!”
An APC supporter who bared his mind through his Facebook account, Ayekooto Akindele, said the VP’s act was worse than Judas’ own.
“Stop calling him Judas. Judas never contested the Rabbi position with Jesus, he only revealed him to his killers. Stop comparing Apple with Orange,” he urged his followers.
Akindele also went further to state that “the era of speculations has given way to the regime of shadow chasing,” clearly shading Osinbajo.
Although some other Nigerians have cheered him, it is still a wonder to many why the vice president chose to bite the finger that fed him, doing this with no trace of empathy and loyalty.
Fingers are crossed to see who will clinch the party ticket that has broken a bond between a political ‘father and his son’.
