- The battle for 2019 has begun among major political heavyweights across the nation
- The battle is mostly more pronounced in the southwest region of the country
- Report has it that Bola Tinubu and Governor Amosun are engaged in a supremacy battle
A report by The Independent indicates that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, national leader of the ruling APC and Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state are currently engaged in a supremacy battle over the control of the southwest region ahead of the 2019 elections.
According to the report, there have been recent allegations and counter-allegations between the loyalists of the duo over recent developments in the party, especially in respect of the party’s preparations for the 2019 presidential election.
Tinubu and Amosun are both respected chieftains of the ruling APC. Source: Twitter
The report quoted a chieftain of the APC as saying the Tinubu camp was suspecting Amosun of planting structures in all the states of the South-west which he planned to use to prosecute President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election incase Tinubu withdraws his support for the president.
READ ALSO: Fayose congratulates Buhari at 75, asks him not to re-contest in 2019
His words: “It is no longer a secret in South-west APC that there is no love lost between Asiwaju Tinubu and Governor Amosun.
“It is generally believed that Amosun is the arrowhead of some APC leaders in the South-west who are referred to as ‘Buhari boys’.
“They have these eerie feelings that Asiwaju may not support President Buhari in 2019 and are already working on putting up their structures on the ground.
“Amosun, in particular, has been fingered in the scheme to plant his structures in all the South-west states while also trying to financially induce loyalists of Tinubu into his fold.
“While it cannot be substantiated, some of Tinubu’s supporters are also insinuating that the Amosun camp may be the brain behind a report last week which insinuated that Asiwaju is eyeing Osinbajo’s job.
“Aside the fact that the report is totally false and more of a hatchet job, it is also aimed at creating enmity between the president and Tinubu, on one hand, and Osinbajo and Tinubu, on the other.”
However, an aide of Governor Amosun, who spoke on condition of anonymity, debunked the report, saying there was no battle of supremacy between Tinubu and Amosun.
“The report of a battle for supremacy between Asiwaju Tinubu and Governor Ibikunle Amosun is only the figment of the imagination of those spinning the fake news.
“Amosun has never been in contention with Asiwaju Tinubu over anything,” the governor's aide said.
Tinubu is generally seen and regarded as the undisputed political leader of the APC in the South-west and beyond.
On Saturday, December 16, the 'Jagaban' as Tinubu is widely called, was on hand to receive defectors into the party from the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo state.
The defectors include former governor of the state; Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Senate Leader; Senator Teslim Folarin; former deputy governor of the state, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; former Secretary to the State Government, Chief Ayodele Adigun and the only federal lawmaker elected on the platform of PDP to the House of Representatives, Segun Odebunmi.
READ ALSO: APC youths backs Saraki, commends Court of Appeal over its decision on his CCT trial
APC official tells why his party could be voted out in 2019 on NAIJ.com
Source: Naija.ng
ROSY CREST
Tuesday, 19 December 2017