The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has debunked reports that he plans to formally declare his presidential ambition ahead of the 2023 elections after the All Progressives Congress Convention slated for February 26, 2021.
There were reports earlier on Monday, that Osinbajo he would announce his presidential bid for 2023 after his party’s convention..
But, the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, described the report as false and speculative, saying that any information on the action of the Vice President would come directly from his office but not the press.
In a tweet late Monday, Akande said: “I’ve seen “news” that VP’ll announce presidential bid after APC’s convention. Anyone reading the story‘ll know it’s all false and speculative snippets.
“Any information on activities and actions of the VP will come directly from his office and not sponsored speculations in the press.”
Meanwhile, Osinbajo has said that public office in Nigeria at any level should not be seen as synonymous with the accumulation of power, privilege and wealth.
He said there was no point in having professionals in politics if the professionals are driven by ethnic, religious and other parochial considerations.
Osinbajo spoke on Monday at the All Progressives Congress Professionals Forum’s Conference, which held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a statement titled ‘Osinbajo to professionals in politics: public office should’nt be synonymous with accumulation of power, wealth.’
According to the Vice President, professionals interested in politics and nation-building must turn the tide where “holding public office in Nigeria at any level is largely perceived as synonymous with the accumulation of power, privilege and wealth.”
He said professionals that would shape the country’s future in one way or the other are those that have the “understanding that public office is an instrument of service and responsibility to the people.”
The Vice President also observed that Nigerians must break the paradox of individual genius and collective underperformance, especially as the country has “many gifted, accomplished and remarkable individuals across all walks of life all over the world.”
“There is a clear mismatch between our individual quality and our national outcomes. We have not yet become greater than the sum of our individual selves,” he said.
In his view, the needed synergy between living up to the merits of professional calling and dedication to public service will produce the desired national impact.
He added, “While it is true that we have several excellent individuals in various spheres of society, we must recognize that success in a country such as ours can no longer be defined in personal or individual terms…True progress is about reimagining our collective circumstances and creating an environment that enables prosperity for us all.
“To this end, we must see ourselves as stewards of the common good who have been entrusted with the privilege of managing our collective destiny – the collective destiny of our people – for an allotted time. It is only through public-spiritedness and dedication to the common good that we can as a people truly become greater than the sum of our parts.
“There is no point in having professionals in politics if the professionals are driven by ethnic, religious and other parochial considerations. Because the whole point of professionalism is that you are defined by merit, by your professional acumen.”
In a related development, a group, Prof Yemi Osinbajo Group for President, has said that Osinbajo will reposition Nigeria if elected as president.
The group of indigenes of Remo in Ogun State called on him to declare his ambition for the 2023 presidential election.
In a communique issued and jointly signed by leaders in Remo, the group maintained that Osinbajo is the best person to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
The statement read, “The resolution and call on Prof Yemi Osinbajo was taken at a meeting of Remo indigenes held today, Friday 4th February 2022 at Isara-Remo, Remo North LGA, Ogun State.
“The vision to call on him to contest is premised on his tested and proven abilities to reposition Nigeria for a better tomorrow.
“We, therefore, humbly call on well-meaning Nigerians to support this clarion call on him to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Also, another group, the Akwa Ibom State Coalition for Osinbajo 2023 has called on Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to throw his hat in the ring and contest the presidential election in the country.
The group described the VP as a man with the Midas touch, adding that he appealed to all the demographic groups, including youths and women.
The state Coordinator of the group, Edidiong Idiong, who said this while addressing supporters after a road walk in support of the VP at the Ibom Unity park on Saturday, added that Nigeria deserves the best at the moment.
He said, “We are here gathered today to create awareness and sensitise our people and call on the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to throw his hat into the ring and contest for the office of the president in 2023.
“Osinbajo is the man with the Midas touch; he has the capacity, very articulate, he appeals to all demographic groups, and I don’t see anybody who has the kind of experience that he had.”
While admitting that the VP was yet to officially signify interest, Idiong said the rally was a way of encouraging him to contest the election by creating awareness and sending the message to the Vice President.
A woman leader, Eno Inyang, said the women were also rooting for Osinbajo because he has the interest of women at heart “as seen through the provision of soft loans to traders,” stating that she believed if the vice president eventually becomes the President, the women would enjoy.
