The All Progressives’ Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have since declared their respective vice presidential candidates, popularly known as running mates, to run after, or with, or behind, the respective presidential flag-bearers Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan. Vice Presidents (and Deputy Governors for that matter) have since been classified as ‘mere spare tires’, but some of them can come into some luck, or good luck (as in Goodluck). Such was the luck of Goodluck as VP (and to some extent former and incumbent Taraba Acting Governors Garba Umar and Sani Danladi respectively) that their Principals had some ill-luck; death for one and incapacitation for the others.
Buhari ‘chose’ renowned lawyer and former Attorney General of Lagos State, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN (who incidentally is also a Pastor – remember that in 2011 Buhari also chose Pastor Tunde Bakare). For the PDP, Architect Muhammad Namadi Sambo, incumbent Vice President, gets to keep his job (in anticipation, at least). Today, we contrast these running mates as we head towards 2015, the elections of which are less than two months away. (Again, names of the candidates are in alphabetical order, of course.)

ANTECEDENTS: Who are these running mates?

OSINBAJO: He is a lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN); Professor of Law and was one-time Head of Department of Public Law at the University of Lagos; Senior Partner at Simmons Cooper Partners; Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). Ethics Adviser to the Advisory Board of the African Development Bank and is a non-executive Director of Citibank; Co-Founder and Board Member of the Convention on Business Integrity and the Justice Research Institute; author of several publications. He was Special Adviser to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice 1988- 1992, and was Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State 1999 to 2007. Married, of course. And the in-laws? Wait for it…The Awolowo Family!

SAMBO: He was several times Commissioner in Kaduna State from 1986; Holds a Master’s degree (MSc) in Architecture and is a fellow of the profession’s institute (much like SAN to lawyers). He left public service in 1990 and went back to private practice. He became Governor 2007 during which he had an 11-point agenda focused on empowering the youth and women of the community, and security issues. He was picked to become vice president in 2010. According to the VP’s official website (arcnamadisambo.com), “Jonathan-Sambo’s administration is very committed to the establishment of a strong foundation on which to build a sustainable future development for Nigerians with equal opportunities for all irrespective of religious beliefs, social class, political affiliation or tribe…” Sambo also happily married, of course. To an adorable lady from a good Kano Family too!

CIRCUMSTANCES: How did these running mates emerge?

OSINBAJO: The Professor was the proverbial ‘dark horse’ who emerged like a bolt out of the blue. He was a non-starter against the likes of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Babatunde Raji Fashola, but for the much-feared Muslim-Muslim ticket. As the running mate slot was zoned by the APC to the South West (perhaps to ensure those millions of votes were obtained; votes which mostly went to Jonathan in 2011 despite Ribadu flying the ACN flag), Adams Oshiomhole and Rotimi Amaechi had to be sacrificed. And then, to complete the ‘dark horse’ luck, another potential running mate, Segun Osoba, had just recently decamped from the APC an angry man. Luck! Good?

SAMBO: When Sambo was first chosen to be Vice President in 2010 after the death of late President Umaru ‘Yaradua, most commentators felt that there was a hidden agenda in his selection. A cabal, so-called, was credited with his choice over and above all the other eligible and potential governors from the North West, whose representative (‘Yaradua) had died. That agenda (Namadi’s selection) was humanly executed, but was later divinely scuttled. That is why at this time many of Sambo’s former governor-colleagues were angling to replace him. His Principal took the side of caution by jettisoning the potential ‘traitors’ and sticking to one he knows and, perhaps, trusts. The Devil you don’t know…

VALUE: What political value do these running mates bring to the team?

OSINBAJO: The value of a politician is directly co-related to his or her ability to deliver. In political terms, ‘to deliver’ means to bring success to bear in one’s geographical area of influence, or relevance, by hook, by crook, or by both (what the Hausa say ‘Ko-Ana-Ha-Maza-Ha-Mata!’). Although trusted, Osinbajo has not been tested. It should be assumed, since he came through such a rigorous selection process, those who chose or nominated or selected him among all the potentials the South West can offer should be able to deliver for him. (But the calculations would probably have been so different with a Tinubu of Fashola running mate. Muslim-Muslim!)

SAMBO: During the 2011 presidential elections, PDP’s hook and crook and both did not translate into much in the North West, including Kaduna State where the Vice President comes from (although, for some twist of bad and good luck, another party’s internal squabbles made the PDP smile away to Kashim Ibrahim Government House). The failure to deliver in the presidential polls was not an indication of Sambo’s particular popularity or otherwise, but a general anti-PDP backlash of ‘Ba-Ma-So!’ So it remains to be seen whether the North West (which has Buhari as a candidate) or even Kaduna State would be happy that their son is Number Two, ‘Ko-Ana-Ha-Mata!’
ABOUT: What do others say about the running mates?

OSINBAJO: [/b]The Nation, December 19, 2014: “With the choice of frontline lawyer-pastor Yemi Osinbajo as…Buhari’s running mate, the PDP and the Presidency are said to be jittery over the choice of the professor of Law and… son in-law of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo…Osinbajo’s “impeccable” personality has dismantled every plan to launch an attack on the person of the APC presidential running mate. The ruling PDP had plotted to latch on religious factor to win the sympathy of Nigerians during the campaign for 2015 presidency…”

[b]SAMBO: The Scoop, February 3, 2013: “Vice President Namadi Sambo is not used to making the news. For a model as vice-president, he is more of a Goodluck Jonathan that an Atiku Abubakar. Quiet, withdrawn, and doing his utmost to avoid a confrontation with his boss…”

FINALLY: Despite being “spare tires”, these running mates may come into some luck, as luck is good. So, in comparing and contrasting, readers must also take into consideration the potential of succession, though this Column wishes all Long Life and Prosperity. So, may Allah make it easy for Nigeria and Nigerians.
As always, we end today’s treatise with our Hasbunal Lahu wa ni’imal Wakeel! (Allah is Sufficient for us and He is the Best Disposer of affairs!). And for the Emir of Kano, wal Lahu Ya’asimuka minhum in sha Allah


SOURCE: http://naijapolitica.com/2014/12/27/two-opposite-poles-yemi-osinbajo-versus-namadi-sambo/

TWITTER: @naijapolitica

One nigeria is this country problem.

The masses are hated immensely.

Though Sambo has more political experience, Prof. Osinbajo's CV is crazily awesome... I'm sure PDP will be jealous..