When Professor Yemi Osinbajo was selected as the running mate of General Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, knowing little about him, some Nigeirans saw the choice of this fresh faced christian pastor as little more than a pawn to ensure the now president's election into office by swaying the Christian vote. Others saw him as a political novice with no real ambition. In spite of these opinions, some still saw potential in the brilliant legal mind and expected him to bring a calm and strategic head to the presidential cabinet. Differing opinions aside, few would have imagined the charisma, the vision and the impact that this legal luminary would bring to the seat of the Vice President over the past seven years.

Before anything it is important to understand the role of the Vice President. According to Wikipedia, The executive functions of the Nigerian vice president includes participation in all cabinet meetings and, by statute, membership in the National Security Council, the National Defence Council, Federal Executive Council, and the Chairman of National Economic Council. Although the vice president may take an active role in establishing policy in the Executive Branch by serving on such committees and councils, the relative power of the Nigerian vice president's office depends upon the duties delegated by the president. Simply put, The vice president is the second-in-command to the president in Nigeria's government. The President makes the decisions. A vice can make suggestions but ultimately, the burden of choice and decisions lie with the commander in chief. Why is this important?

It has been reported recently that there have been different hateful adverts targeting the Vice-President's presidential campaign. On the 11th of April 2022, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (PYO) declared his intention to run for president and some individuals were quick to point at his commendation of the work done by sitting President Muhammadu Buhari. They also pointed out PYO's intention to "continue what we have started" as evidence of the famous and mythical "weakness" that has been spread in the minds of Nigerians by a certain political enemy who shall not be named. "He will only be a pawn”, “The Cabal will use him”, “He had 7 years”, etc." There have been different versions of this same rhetoric populating pages all over social media. All of which unsubstantiated and unconfirmed. But it doesn't stop the spreading of the idea into the minds of the politically meek.

It would take a brave man to predict the heart of others, but seeing the clues, it is obvious to this writer that the aforementioned enemies foresree PYO as a threat in the presidential race and preemptively struck using a clever though unsubstantiated claim to discredit him. But it's also worth pointing out that because there have been shortcomings in government over the last 7 years does not mean there wasn't considerable effort made to change the situation.

As we have already discussed, the Vice-President only has so much power, but it does not mean policies weren't put forth, that campaigns were not started, that PYO was silent. On the 17th of November 2020. The Vice-President finally broke the silence from the government "Dear Nigerians, I know that many of you are angry, and understandably so. We could’ve moved faster and for this we are sorry,” he wrote. In that moving address it seemed like the Vice President carried the blame on his shoulders as he addressed the Nigerian people. He goes on to say "With Mr. President’s approval, SARS has been completely disestablished, and none of its former members will feature in any police tactical units", emphasizing that the final decision was never his to make. Sources in the villa have confirmed that the Vice-President had been on the issue from the start and had tried to cause an intervention before situations reached breaking point.

Unlike most of the other aspirants for the APC presidential ticket, it seems like Osinbajo has been called by the people into declaring his political ambition to be president. Seeing a need that only he can fill. Borrowing from his declaration speech, with utmost humility formally threw his hat into the running. Declaring his intention to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of APC. This is despite knowing he'd have to run against a long time political godfather in Tinubu. The same Tinubu who had opposed his nomination as Vice-President, see OTHER ARTICLE for details.

Never one for the spotlight, the professor had always been moving in the background. Quietly building a reputation as a man of the people. "I have been to practically all local governments in Nigeria. I have been in markets, factories, schools, and farms. I have been in agricultural, mining, and oil-producing communities; in the Delta, in Kebbi, Enugu, Borno; Rivers, Plateau, and Ondo and in all other States of the federation, listening to the diverse experiences and yearnings of our people." And he wasn't joking.

A youth group in Gombe led by Babbangida Malabo from the National Coordinator of Progressive Youth Group celebrated the answer to their call which has been on since 2021. "We have been calling on the Vice President to contest for the presidency in 2023 general elections, we are grateful as he has declared his interest today, we the youths in Gombe are happy that he has answered our call".

What does this tell us? It would seem that those behind the smear campaign against the PYO's bid for the presidency know that the power lies in the acceptance of the people. That there is a great love for what Osinbajo represents in the eyes of the people. Their attacks only serve to further expose their fears that the people's preferred candidate is PYO. Attacks or no, the people know who represents their interests. Now it is left to the APC delegates who go to the polls on the 31st of May. It remains to be seen if they will be swayed by the money and smear campaigns, plunging the APC into irrelevance or if they will go with the will of the people and vote in who is the perfect person at the perfect time for Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

No amount of smear campign will bring Osinbajo down. He is Peoples' choice, next president 2020

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Another Bunkum

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helinues:
Another Bunkum

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1869ineee:
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Gara gara, goro goro don end.

Purely exercise in futility

Its a pity

Wahala

Immediately i saw the same tinubu that has opposed osinbajo nomination for VP position, i stopped reading the junk you posted as article.

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helinues:


Gara gara, goro goro don end.

Purely exercise in futility

Its a pity

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