Buhari ordered exclusion of Osinbajo from APC/Tinubu campaign council – Keyamo

The Tinubu/Shettima presidential campaign council has explained why Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha’s names were ommitted from its 422-man list.

A statement by its spokersperson, Festus Keyamo, on Saturday, said the decision was taken on the directive of the President Muhammadu Buhari.

This comes hours after the APC Presidential campaign council list was published with some irregularities.

For example, Peoples Democratic Party senator, Chimaroke Nnamani was included in the APC list.

After political observers called out the party for the omission of Osinbajo and Boss Mustapha in the published comprehensive list, Keyamo clarified that Buhari gave the order for their names to be dropped to avoid abandoning governance for electioneering campaigns.

The statement read; “Our attention has been drawn to some stories making the rounds that there may be something amiss within the family of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the name of our own revered and respected Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, is not included in the list of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.

“Nothing can be farther from the facts. For the avoidance of doubt, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, is the Chairman of the Campaign Council. As a result, Mr. President has Specifically directed that the Vice-President and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha should be left out of the Campaign Council to concentrate on the governance of the country and administration of Government.

“As a responsible Party and Government, all the key functionaries of government cannot abandon their positions for electioneering campaigns. The APC has the mandate of the Nigerian people to administer the country on their behalf at least till May, 29, 2023, and this we intend to do with all sense of responsibility.

“Our candidates and the leadership of the APC have also indicated that the list is not sacrosanct as there may be periodic review of it as circumstances dictate.

“We will not toe the path of those who governed the country in an irresponsible manner before us and our Party is not in total disarray like those who wish to ‘rescue’ the country, but cannot simply manage their own internal affairs.”