Amaechi loses out as Buhari settles for Osinbajo
Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has picked Yemi Osinbajo, former attorney-general of Lagos state, as his running mate, TheCable can report.
Osinbajo’s possible nomination had been on the cards for months, and TheCable reported in August that Tinubu was strongly considering the lawyer, who served him as attorney-general between 1999 and 2007.
Buhari will submit his nomination form to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday, a day to the deadline, after nearly one week of negotiation and horse-trading on who should be his vice-presidential candidate.
Rotimi Amaechi, governor of Rivers state, had made a spirited bid to be chosen, but met with a brick wall with the zoning of the position to the south-west.
On Tuesday night, intense politicking threatened to mar the spirit in the party, as Amaechi made a last-ditch effort but was told by the retired general that Bola Tinubu, national leader of APC, would be the one to recommend the running mate.
TheCable’s report on August 21
Amaechi had succeeded in getting the enlarged meeting of the party’s leadership to oppose a Muslim-Muslim ticket, which Tinubu’s nomination was going to produce, but he was unable to benefit from the new development.
At a meeting with Buhari on Tuesday, Amaechi, according to sources who spoke with TheCable, made a case for the south-south to be given the VP slot because of the likely backlash in the oil-producing region if President Goodluck Jonathan loses the election.
He also told Buhari that it would be impossible for the APC to campaign in the Niger Delta with neither No 1 nor No 2 on offer for the region.
But Buhari reportedly told him that he had already agreed that the position should go to the south-west.
The governor invested heavily in Buhari’s campaign, paying for chartered flights, new vehicles and financing local and international media campaign to promote the candidacy of the former military head of state.
Osinbajo overcame last-minute challenge from other south-westerners such as former governors Kayode Fayemi, Niyi Adebayo and Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
THE RUNNING MATES
YEMI OSINBAJO
Age: 55
State: Lagos (originally Ogun)
Party: APC
Presidential flag bearer: Muhammadu Buhari
Education: Bachelor of law (University of Lagos); master’s degree (London School of Economics)
Political career: Lagos attorney-general and commissioner for justice (1999-2007)
Work experience: Law professor, University of Lagos
Trivia: His look-alike brother, Akin, was attorney-general and commissioner for justice of Ogun state (2003-2007) while Yemi held the same position in Lagos.
Namadi Mohammed Sambo
Age: 60
State: Kaduna
Party: PDP
Presidential flag bearer: Goodluck Jonathan
Education: B.Sc, M.Sc (architecture), ABU, Zaria.
Political career: Commissioner for works, transport and housing, Kaduna (1988-1990); governor, Kaduna state (2007-2010); vice-president (2010 till date)
Work experience: Founded Nalado Nigeria Limited.
Trivia: He was born on Sallah day, also known as “goodluck day”.
Amaechi did not lose anything, he remains the most important person on what happens in SS if APC wins election because he will have role where he can impact the SS more than being a VP without his own budget.
You are very right.
Amaechi lost nothing, to me VP position is more or less a messenger role, he cannot single handedly do anything by himself except if his OGA permit, Amaechi can go for the slot of Senate president than VP, he is going to excel as senate president than VP position.
Go on patronizing Amaechi and the South-South. He has been fooled period. The foundation of the whole war with Jonathan has been Amaechi’s ambition to be vice president and here is a South-West e-rat telling Amaechi that it does not matter that another Tinubu errand boy has got on the ticket instead of him.
The choice of Osinbajo is a masterstroke….saying Amaechi has lost out is myopic. Not according southwest in the contest is dangerous and unwise considering the role it played in the contest. The truth of the matter is eben if Amaechi was picked as VP, he wouldn’t be able to win up to 60% for APC joint ticket. However I believe when the time comes to share the spoil of war, Amaechi will surely have a befitting portion
Why do you suggest Senate President for Amaechi, who has not contested it. is the SP an appointed position?
Learn before you talk
I wish GMB/Osibajo best of luck. All we need is to Jonathan out of our way.
You getting it wrong. From Buhari’s antecedents, he is famous for taking the back seat and allowing his deputy take charge. His stints as Head of State and at PTF comes to mind. This explained why there were so much horse trading to be his running mate
Ameachi lost everything. You cant tell what will happen to a 72 year old man hoping to rule for 8 years with a desperate young man seeking for power. If Buhari kaput power will go back to SW or SS. The permutation is deeper than meet the eye.
Osinbajo is from Ogun State, not Lagos.
Amaechi lost nothing. He will be more relevant in the new dispensation than as a VP. I trust him to rise politically because he is more intelleigent than Jonathan.
amaechi,amaechi,amaechi,how many tyms did I call u.u are finished.all what Tifnubu want is rivers money.
Apc is one man bussines I never belive my eyes when I see amaechi whith this daedly groups, come my gay becearful, tinubu is deadly selfish .
The choice of Osinbajo is a masterstroke….saying Amaechi has lost out is myopic. Not according southwest in the contest is dangerous and unwise considering the role it played in the contest. The truth of the matter is eben if Amaechi was picked as VP, he wouldn’t be able to win up to 60% for APC joint ticket. However I believe when the time comes to share the spoil of war, Amaechi will surely have a befitting portion
Ameachi. go and read 48 laws of power. Learn that talking too much has negative. ln as much as you the most qualified and with advantages of south south, no sane man will pick you as an assistant. You are not trust worthy of keep secret.
It serve Gov. Ameachi right. However, I dont see Buhari winning the February 2015 general election with a relatively new Party.