- It would be unjust if I decline to serve Nigerians as President – Osinbajo
- Fasoranti gives his blessings
- We love, appreciate you and whatever you do; we support you – Deji of Akure
By Banji Ayoola
The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday in Akure, the Ondo State capital explained the reasons that propelled his aspiration to be Nigeria’s next President.
In his own words: “If I say, with all the knowledge and experience that I have, that I would now retire quietly either to Lagos or Ikenne and go and be writing my memoirs, I think it would be a great injustice to our country.
“So that is why I decided that I would throw my hat in the ring and ensure that I make the best case for the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And I believe that God helping me, God gives the opportunity, the Lord will make it happen.
“I seek an opportunity to give this nation the very best that we can give it with all our heart, with everything that we can give, sincerity, openness and with all transparency. That is the desire of my heart.”
He spoke during a private visit to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN.
At a meeting with Akeredolu at the Governor’s Office, which was also attended by the Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Bamidele Oleyeloogun; APC State chairman, Engnr Ade Adetimehin; Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu; members of the State Executive Council; members of the State House of Assembly; Permanent Secretaries; and party delegates, he said that his aspiration is hinged on a burning wish to render genuine, transparent, open and selfless service to the entire people of Nigeria.
Osinbajo, who is eyeing the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to contest the forthcoming presidential election, said: “I have served for seven years and some months as vice president to President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Just out of his openness, his own open mindedness and his own generosity, he ensured that I was given very serious responsibilities as vice president. Very many times I also acted as president.
“In those capacities either as vice president or acting president in particular, I got to know so many things that most people would never come across. And I gained a lot of experience on that account.
“Many times when the president was away, he said pointedly to me that look, I don’t want to fetter you in respect of any area as acting president, just make sure that you are… Don’t refer anything to me. You don’t ask me any questions. So I had opportunities to do a…especially as acting president.
“Now, the opportunity has come. With what I know, the experience that I have, God helping me, with all the contacts and connections that I have made, it would be a betrayer to our country, to our nation.
“This is a nation that many people died for. People die for this country every day, young men and women. Soldiers, policemen die for this country. I am humbled by what has been given to me by the grace of God.
“If I say, with all the knowledge and experience that I have, that I would now retire quietly either to Lagos or Ikenne and go and be writing my memoirs, I think it would be a great injustice to our country.
“So that is why I decided that I would throw my hat in the ring and ensure that I make the best case for the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And I believe that God helping me, God gives the opportunity, the Lord will make it happen.
“I seek an opportunity to give this nation the very best that we can give it with all our heart, with everything that we can give, sincerity, openness and with all transparency. That is the desire of my heart.”
He said: “Our country needs service, men and women who can truly serve. That is really what would get our country out of the problems.
“I am sure that everybody knows now that I have formally declared my intention to run as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I did so on Monday April 11. And I did so because nobody can be anything if God does not decide that you will be. It is only God That can make a person president, vice president, governor, anything whatsoever.”
The vice president said that whoever aspires to be anything without the Lord accepting it and stamping it with authority is deceiving himself, noting that all powers come from above and that he believed strongly that the Hand of the Almighty must be on any endeavour to succeed.
He said: “I have come to visit Aketi (Akeredolu). He is not only my friend, my brother; he is also the chairman of our South West Governors Forum.”
Osinbajo also congratulated Akeredolu and his team for the achievements of his administration, noting: “There are great strides that are being made already by government. There are so much that have been done by government, so much in terms of infrastructure, bitumen and so many others.
“I think I should commend you all for doing such great works and say that the best is yet to come. Update your public service. It’s something that we all know. The most valuable thing, most valuable contribution you can make to our communities and societies.
“This opportunity to serve the public, to serve our people, comes every once in a while. I was looking at the number of people who are commissioners in any one cycle, even the number of people who ever become commissioners in all our country. They would not probably be up to 10,000 yet for a country of 200 million people.
“So it is such a special privilege to be called upon to serve. And I want to thank God for giving me this opportunity to serve. I think it is a special privilege.”
Earlier, Akeredolu said: “I must say that it is a thing of joy for me to welcome Mr. Vice President to Ondo State.
“One thing I can say is that we have known ourselves for long, not today. We did not meet in politics. In actual fact, he became so close to one of my classmates. Since then, in secondary school, we have been friends, up till today; and we will remain friends. Nothing will separate us. There is no problem.
“Where we are now, we should be thankful. We did not bring ourselves to where we are. So we all should show gratitude. Ka sa maa dupe lo to, ka sa maa dupe lo to, oro wa o gbejo wewe ka sa maa dupe lo to.
“Whatever the Lord wants to do, He shall do it. This Lord is awesome. None of us can ever understand Him. Awamaridi ni Oruko E. Whatever He wants to do, He shall do it. And when He accomplishes it, no one can query Him. And that is the end of it.
“I was discussing with him some moment ago. We were at Teslim Balogun. When we wanted to collect money for the state…
“We struggled and held the primary. President Muhammadu Buhari won. Then it was time to pick the VP. Someone who did not come for the primary; this man was at the Redemption Camp attending the Holy Ghost Night. We were struggling to be VP. But the Lord said ‘No.’
“Thereafter we wanted to be minister and attorney general. We struggled. Some who are here today were praying against us being made attorney general because we would not come back home. It is true. You were right.
“But the Lord said, Aketi, this is where I am taking you to – Governor. Is it not miracle? Do we know how we won? Nobody understands it. The Lord said so. We are grateful to the Lord.”
He told Osinbajo: “Feel very free with us. We are homely and hospitable people. Ondo State is a state for you; it is a state for all. The time of campaign, as you have said, is going to come. This is just a visit.”
The governor told the people of the state: “Be joyful with him. It is the Lord Who spares his life. Where he is going is in the Hands of God. If the Lord says he is the right man for the post, He will lift him there.”
Akeredolu said: “May the Lord uplift you and spare your life. It is only prayer that we have.”
After the meeting, Osinbajo and his entourage visited the revered Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, who rained his blessings on his presidential aspiration.
According to Fasoranti: “I wish the project a success, as you go about, may you continue to find favour with people and, at the end of the day, we shall say, congratulations.”
Thanking the Afenifere leader for his contributions to the development of the country, Osinbajo said that Fasoranti’s “counsel and guidance have always been extremely useful and treasured by all of us.”
He said: “Those of us in politics, and government particularly, find your counsel very useful; and we know you have a heart, not just for the Yorubas or the citizens of Ondo State, but for our whole country.”
Osinbajo had earlier visited the palace of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, where he said that being Vice President, and at some point, Acting President, and the invaluable experience acquired over the past seven years were like training him to serve Nigeria as President.
In his own words: “As we approach the coming elections, it is a time also for us to reflect on the type of leadership that we want for our country.
“I have served for the past seven years as the Vice President of Nigeria, and I have also acted within that period when the President was away. I think that I am fortunate, and we are fortunate to have been given tremendous opportunities to serve, also even when I acted (as President).
“In that capacity, I am probably the only person trained to be (in that duration), because if you have been a Vice President and also as Acting President, then you have been trained, and I must say with utmost humility – that that is exactly how I feel.”
Osinbajo said: “I feel that with what God has given me within the past seven and half years, I must be able to give to my country. People die for this country every day; there are young men and women, soldiers who die for this country every day. That is the greatest act of loyalty that one can have for one’s country. Those of us whom God has given some opportunities to serve must be prepared to offer that service whenever we are called upon to do so.
“Which is why I declared my intention to run for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And I want to say that I am grateful to God; and I am grateful to you for all your support, advice and counselling in the past.”
In his speech, the first class monarch prayed for the Osinbajo’s success in attaining his objective, noting that, “had it been it were in advanced countries, in all of the APC, nobody would run (for president), they would all just support you.”
Oba Aladelusi said: “We love you and appreciate you and whatever you do, we support you.”
“In whatever you do, we wish you good luck. God will continue to strengthen you; your going and coming would be by the mercy of God. We appreciate you for coming.”
Osinbajo, speaking with reporters after the meeting
With the Deji of Akure
Addressing the meeting at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Govrnor’s Office. Sitting form left to right: Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Bamidele Oleyelogun; Governor Akeredolu; Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa; and State APC Chairman, Engnr Ade Adetimehin
In a group photograph with Akeredolu and his team
