By Oluwafemi Popoola

“I admire you and I said this man is a real professor. You know the way you talk, not just because you are a Professor but it is in your DNA, the way you bring us together, the points you made as well, I will always be your admirer.”

Those were, in part, the words of the Oba of Benin Kingdom, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, on Thursday, April 28, 2022. The monarch was describing the leadership of Vice President of Nigeria and front line presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, as inborn.

The first-class monarch made this disclosure at his palace in Benin, Edo State, where he received the Vice President, who had visited the state to inform the monarch of his desire to serve the country by running for President in 2023.

Indeed, one can find the truism in the above comments made by the first-class monarch in reference to the VP’s exemplary qualities, considering Osinbajo’s life trajectory and personality.

The legendary English poet, William Shakespeare, in his work, Twelfth Night, said: “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” Without an iota of doubt, Osinbajo has greatness thrust upon him. His rise to prominence and political stardom was consequential to his leadership aptitudewhich the Oba of Benin identified and publicly extolled, while also projecting him as the “son of the soil.”

The Vice President’s visit to the revered monarch was in continuation of his consultations to meet with the state’s party delegates, political actors and critical stakeholders ahead of the APC's primary elections on May 30 and 31, preparatory to the 2023 presidential race.

The Oba of Benin also stated that he admired the Vice President’s eloquence, calmness, humility, respect for culture, and fear of God.

He said the preeminent credentials and exemplary qualities of the Vice President are causing panic and confusion in the camp of other contestants, causing them to shiver, as he affirmed that Prof. Osinbajo was a man of impeccable character.

The Oba also pointed out that Osinbajo endearing qualities bring people together.

Hear him: “With your credentials and entrance to the race, other contestants must be shivering wherever they are.

“We don’t have to overflog your credentials, they speak for themselves. I always admire you greatly.

“Because of your credentials, humility, calmness, there’s no gainsaying that your contestants are shivering where they are.

“I was supposed to be in Abuja today for a meeting but I had to put it on hold to receive our dear son of the soil, Yemi Osinbajo,” the royal father said.

Indeed, the VP’s personality and qualities have won him many praises nationwide. The same way the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi, showered the VP with delicious epithets few days ago when he offered Osinbajo his royal blessing in realization of his 2023 presidential dream. He said “had it been it was in advanced countries, in all of the APC, nobody would run (for President), they would all just support you.”

These are no extravagant praises. They are splashes of evidence of the consistency of Osinbajo’s personality, leadership acumen and the confidence reposed in his eventual presidency.

It is not surprising that Osinbajo’s entrance in the presidential race has made him become a constant focus of public attention as all fingers steadily point to his direction whenever 2023 presidential debate pops up, either on TV screens, in the pages of national dailies or during general day-to-day political discussions among Nigerians everywhere.

The latest endorsement by the monarch ahead of the ruling APC presidential primary election has again affirmed the people’s quest to reproduce the Vice President Osinbajo, in Aso Rock, come 2023, now as the President.

This is someone who has proven to be an enormously galvanizing figure, not only in the ruling APC, but across all the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Party men, political and support groups, civil society organizations, politicians, governors and political analysts, traditional rulers across all divides, have since swung into projecting his good image as the right candidate to take over the highest political office in Nigeria.

With few weeks away to the APC primary elections, it is safe for the ruling APC to start looking in the direction of Osinbajo if the party is serious about retaining power in 2023 and beyond as the Professor of Law remains the most sellable product amongst his fellow contestants in the party.

As general elections come knocking, VP Yemi Osinbajo is basking in the love of many Nigerians at the moment and it has left the Nigerian people salivating on the prospect of electing for the very first time an intellectual, academic and a law professor in Aso Rock come 2023. Not just anyone, but one with a passion and zeal for public service and national development.

_*•Popoola, is a political analyst, content analyser and news aggregator. He can be reached via bromeo2013@gmail.com*_

He and Buhari has led this country for the past 8 years. Nigerians are yearning for new pattern of governance

God bless Prof Osinbajo. I wish him luck n the elections.

He has led Nigerian Christians to their graves.

Tinubu/Osinbanjo are both ok.....may the better man win. What's important is that we have an economic liberalist come 2023.

Incoming President PYO. Project 2023.



Interesting piece op