Rather than settle, the dust generated by the alleged plot to remove Vice President Yemi Osinbajo by some powerful forces in the presidency, otherwise known as ‘the cabal’, continue to rise with reports that two possible replacements had been pencilled down if the VP throws in the towel.
A credible source in the presidency told Daily Independent that Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, who is the current chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), and Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Works and Housing, are two top contenders for the number two position.
According to him, it has been agreed that the South-West will still retain the position but unlike in 2015 when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s camp produced Osinbajo, the would-be vice president this time around would be “someone approved by the Buhari camp”.
He said Fayemi was one of the favourites in the Buhari camp having served as the Chairman of the Presidential Convention Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which organised the primary that produced Buhari as the APC flag bearer in 2015.
Speaking further, the source said: “The president is also very comfortable with Fashola and would have picked him as his running mate in 2015 but for the outcry against a Muslim-Muslim ticket which also jeopardised Tinubu’s chances.
“If you remember, that was why the president appointed Fashola as the Minister of Power, Works and Housing in 2015, making him the most important minister in his cabinet or super-minister. As it stands, these two are the likely choices as replacement for Osinbajo, but it remains to be seen how this will materialise as the vice president will also not want to go down without a fight.”
