Sagay Blasts Tinubu’s Supporters For Labelling Osinbajo Traitor

• Describes publications as unfortunate,  distasteful

BY VICTOR BUORO – Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay (SAN) has blasted supporters of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for branding Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) as a traitor and betrayer following his declaration to run for the Presidency on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform come 2023.

Some loyalists of the former Lagos State governor and APC presidential aspirant had recently unveiled posters describing Osinbajo as Judas who betrayed Jesus Christ, even as others called him the ‘modern-day Akintola who betrayed Awolowo’ in reference to the 1962 Action Group crisis arising from the struggle for power between Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, two political heavyweights of the Western Region and Action Group (AG),

Prof Sagay, who was reacting to the unfortunate development, said it was totally uncalled for to paint the Vice President with such derogatory names over his decision to contest the presidency.

According to the Professor of law; “labeling the Vice President a betrayer for coming out to contest for the Presidency is most uncalled for.

“In the larger interests of Nigeria, anybody who thinks he has something to offer should be allowed to indicate interest and contest the election. This is because the greater the variety, the most likely possibility that we will get the best candidate”.

Sagay, who warned against cheap blackmail and underhand tactics by aspirants, further said; “I don’t think it is good to try curtailing the variety of those who are interested by shouting down on anyone. Those publications against the Vice President were very unfortunate and distasteful”.

Maintaining that Prof Osinbajo’s credentials are impressive and intimidating as a presidential candidate, the PACAC Chairman said; “We are all aware of the antecedent of the Vice President, particularly as a former Attorney General of Lagos State.

“What some of us are saying is that everybody should be given a chance so that the delegates will have a wide choice to make and will be able to pick the very best”.

“When you begin to threaten or eliminate people, you are narrowing the choice and you may end up eliminating the best person.

“In my view, the Vice President is entitled to contest. Let the delegates determine who the candidate will be”, the Senior lawyer insisted