₦airaland Forum

The handwriting may be boldly written on the wall, but it will take a discerning mind to interpret the signs as Nigeria marches on towards electing a president in 2023. One thing that has appeared to be a total mystery to so many political watchers and analysts is the unpredictability of the president, Muhammadu Buhari; the president has held close to his chest his preference for who should succeed him. Not even his closest associates and kitchen cabinet members seem to know what the president is thinking or who his preferred candidate would be.

However, it has become evident that President Muhammadu Buhari has wants to leave a legacy with his choice of a successor. His attitude and expressions have shown that he will prefer someone who will be widely and easily acceptable to all Nigerians and someone who has demonstrated commitment to the nation and to the political party, the APC. One thing also that the president has shown through his body language is that he is not willing to bring onboard a successor who has baggage of moral and legal bankruptcy, someone with a tainted public perception, and someone with a history of bigotry, myopia, and narrow mindedness. President Buhari has shown through his words and action that he does not want a president after him who will not have international acceptance or who will have questions and uncertainties regarding his or her past.

In his recent meeting with state governors of the APC and other key party stakeholders, the president was quoted to have said the following words:
“In keeping with the established internal policies of the party and as we approach the convention in a few days, therefore, I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023”.

This remark has generated diverse opinions within the party and even among nonparty members who are eager to know the direction of the president’s choice, and who he will prefer among the aspirants under the APC. While some have said that they will oppose the idea of a consensus candidate, others believe and have maintained that the party’s decision will remain supreme in any circumstance. And the president as the leader of the party is vested with the mandate to give the party a direction as to the way to go given that he also understands the demands of the office which he currently occupies.

Some have argued that those questioning the privilege or rights of the president to have a say in who succeeds him undermine the President’s right to nominate his successor and deny the party the opportunity to leverage the goodwill which the president has built and still enjoys across the country. That goodwill is transferable and can only be available to whosoever the president will bestow it on.

The president called for a widely accepted candidate of the APC who has an imprint with every segment of Nigeria and who is in tune with the philosophy of the APC. The president is looking for a capable hand who can win the votes of Nigerians across regional, religious, and political divides, one who will give the Nigerian people a sense of victory. He has asked for the support of the Governors, and while many will want to interpret the president’s stance as giving a nod to his most-preferred candidate, others have interpreted it differently. In whatsoever way that the president’s seemingly ambiguous speech has been interpreted, what is clear is that Nigeria is looking for a president with a broad-based and a wide spectrum of acceptance.

As for the governors and other key stakeholders of the party, including the members of the National Working Committee of the APC, it would make sense that they should allow him to nominate his successor as the president’s reserved twelve million votes across the country will most probably go to the president’s preferred candidate.

While there is strong public opinion that the government has not performed adequately given the challenges of inherited insecurity and the damaged economy, it is important to appreciate that investment in infrastructures such as roads and rail will yield long-term returns. Some of the infrastructure projects of the administration of President Buhari are legacy projects which need to be continued and sustained for the greater good. In this regard, the president has deliberately empowered his vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, to be the anchor to some of these legacy projects for which huge investments have been made. The Vice president chairs the National Economic Council (NEC) under which strategic national development plans are birthed.

As a diligent partner, the vice president has been in the middle of the game, and he is the best positioned to complete what the president has started. As an active, quiet, and contributory insider to the processes and activities of this administration, the vice president knows all the details and plans of the specific programs of the Buhari administration. Therefore, he is best positioned to carry on and implement existing projects, programs, and much more. In addition, the vice president is a highly knowledgeable, innovative, and well-traveled technocrat that is very well in tune and aligned with the digital age. For example, his knowledge of global digital technology trends was on full display when he visited Silicon Valley, USA.

Professor Yemi Osinbajo has a robust educational background and a practical knack for initiating and executing reforms as a technocrat at the state and federal levels of public service. His pedigree speaks of excellence and competence, his character is untainted, and his accomplishments are not directed at personal gains but are for the nation’s benefits and service to the country. His healthy unalloyed loyalty to his principal and the healthy relationship between them is partly due to the high moral standards they both share. As the vice president traversed the length and breadth of the country, he has been well-received and has garnered commendations from leaders, traditional rulers, technocrats, party members, and youths.

One thing that is evident is that the vice president has no political baggage and has demonstrated servant-leadership in dealing with every segment of Nigeria’s multi-religious and ethnic society.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, is a leader that both Christians and Muslims will cherish and embrace as the next President of Nigeria. He has a strong appeal across the Northern and Southern states of Nigeria.

The duty that is upon the nation, and especially the APC is to get him a strong northern vice president to complement his incredible credentials and goodwill so that together they will win the 2023 presidential elections and, more importantly, settle into the extremely difficult task ahead of salvaging Nigeria’s political and economic future.

Ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party primaries coming up this week, the vice
president has visited states in all the six geo-political zones, while actively ensuring that all responsibilities within his office as the vice president are being handled adequately.

From his visits and engagements, one thing that has come out strongly is the fact that the vice president’s exceptional charisma has enabled him to interface adequately with different segments of the Nigerian society with evidence of a deep-rooted passion for the vice president and a genuineacceptance and admiration for the part of those the vice president has met within the course of hisnationwide consultative visits.

The vice president interacted with traditional rulers and royal institutions, businessleaders,entrepreneurs, students, youth groups, all every important segment of Nigerian society, and everyday people who have shown great admiration for the vice president. What has come forth from these engagements by the vice president is a surplus of good words and positive feedback.

It speaks to diligence, compassion, and commitment to the Nigerian project, and is a clear indication of the determination to chart a new part for progress in Nigeria. This has won the vice president the heart of many. This absolute commitment to the welfare of Nigerians from all strata has attracted praises and words of encouragement for the vice president.

Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi said of the vice president “All the things you have in mind, God will grant you”. This prayer is a testimony to the vice president’s constant interactions, interface, and recognition of traditional institutions and royal fathers all over Nigeria.

Another positive view was expressed by the revered, Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N'Oba N'Edo Uku' Akpolokpolo Ewuare 11 when he met with the Vice President, he said “He (Osinbajo) is sure to drive Nigeria forward. He could be the best that would drive Nigeria forward.” This demonstrates the fact that the vice president is held in high esteem and trusted enough that he will be able to accomplish all that he will promise to do when elected as president.

In the same breath, the Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V has this to say about the vice president “VP Osinbajo has shown clear capabilities and courage in handling Nigeria as seen in his capacity”. This is evident in the characteristic manner the vice president has, working with the president, ensuring stability within traditional institutions, and giving due recognition to the royal fathers whose rule is to stabilize the social system.

The revered Olubadan of Ibadan, His Royal Majesty, Oba Mohood Olalekan Ishola Balogun Alli, the 42nd Olubadan said of the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo “Very soon in God’s Grace, you will be President of Nigeria”.

As an astute administrator and an outstanding legal luminary, the vice president’s committed acts of benevolence and hard work have attracted admiration from top members of the political class, former heads of state, and a host of prominent leaders who identify with the integrity of the vice president. Even the president, Muhammadu Buhari reckons with the accomplishment and the loyalty of the vice president with whom he has served the country for seven years without rancor or disagreement.

The former head of state, President Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) says of the vice president “Osinbajo is a good man who has conviction about Nigeria.” There is no doubt that the vice president’s love for Nigeria and indeed his passion for improved living standards is the major motivation for his strategic engagement with all sections of the Nigerian society throughout his seven years of meritorious service as vice president, and this passion will be carried forward into a greater extent when elected as president.

Similarly, a one-time governor of Lagos state and national leader of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu said of the vice president “since I knew him, he has not changed in brilliance commitment, selflessness, and loyalty to the Nation.” And this is demonstrated in the manner the vice president handled the office of the attorney general and commissioner for justice in Lagos state. The same legacy of service has found expression in his role as vice president.

The president says “Osinbajo is the bridge between government and the people” underscoring the determining role of the vice president in bringing the policy thrust of the government to the grassroots, this is seen in the execution of the National Social Investment Programmes which are designed to address poverty, unemployment and support businesses.

Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the current governor of Anambra state and a one-time governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said of the vice president “You are my brother of many years, be rest assured that you have my support.”

This testimonial accentuates the vice
president Yemi Osinbajo’s charisma with which he has provided genuine leadership to the economic management team which the Presidential Economic Advisory Council to which the current Anambra state governor was a member and on which platform he, as former governor of the CBN, made significant contributions to the development of the economy. It is to the credit of the vice president and his team that Nigeria was able to exist under economic recession twice in a roll without damage to the economy.

In the same light, the serving governor of Kaduna state and former minister of the FCT, Mallam Nasir el Rufai has this to say about the vice president “You are a bridge-builder, a man who is a friend to Imam and Emirs. A professor who can speak the language of the Ordinary People.

We Move Group, a frontline group of prominent Nigerians rooting for the vice president to become the next president come 2023 said of him “Osinbajo is the most qualified”. The group went further to explain that its endorsement of the Vice President is hinged on Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s six identified strengths and qualities which include time-proven credentials, competence, character, conviction, compassion, and commitment to national unity which are evidence-based reasons that justify the choice to succeed the current president.

An independent pollster, IFP& P Polling speaks on professor Osinbajo’s achievements, noting that “One out of two think Osinbajo is the best person to run the country”. This lends credence to the vice president’s sheer sense of passion and commitment to the project of building Nigeria and his non-compromising position regarding the goal to invest massively in developing the economy for the future.

The world-leading technology giant, Google describes Prof Yemi Osinbajo as “the reason why we are investing in Nigeria.” The vice president in his capacity as the chair of the National Economic Council which meets monthly has been able to consistently interface with leading global technology companies and organizations that are heavily invested in the digital economy space such as Google, Facebook, and others. This regular interface and interventions are designed to ensure that Nigeria receives a fair amount of the global technology sector investments flowing from these companies and such that young Nigerians in the technology and innovation space have
benefited massively.

Given the plethora of testimonials backed by strong evidence to justify his experiences and his records of achievements in consolidating the various sectors of the economy and national life into the overall national development agenda, given also his commitment and passion for Nigeria and the desire for development, it is expected that the primary election to decide the party flag bearer for the APC will be decided based on these merits and that in 2023 Nigerians will have a chance to be led by a detribalized, a globally competitive and well-educated president like the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.