The months of intense speculations have come to and end as the Vice-President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, early Monday morning, officially declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidential election. His declaration came inform of a short broadcast he shared on his Twitter handle.
For days now Osinbajo’s handlers and supporters alike have suffused the social media space with teasers assuring Nigerians that their principal will dare Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare to run in 2023. He has finally. But the fact remains that he has been part and parcel of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration that has dazed Nigerians with all sorts of setback and hardship.
Osinbajo said, “In the past seven years, I have served as Vice President under a true Nigerian patriot, a servant of the nation in war and peace, and a man of integrity, President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We have, together, worked through some of the most difficult times in the history of our Nation, but we have remained focused on securing the country, providing infrastructure, and growing our economy. As stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution, our tenure will end next year.
“In this period of seven years, I have served the government in several capacities, and have, at the direction of Mr. President, represented our country in sensitive high level international engagements. 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; & in all other States of the federation, listening to the diverse experiences and yearnings of our people.
“I have visited our gallant troops in the North East and our brothers and sisters in the IDP camps. I have felt the pain and anguish of victims of violent conflicts, terrorist attacks, flooding, fire and other disasters.
“I have been in the homes of many ordinary Nigerians in various parts of the country. I have sat with our techprenuers in Lagos, Edo, and Kaduna, with our Nollywood and Kannywood actors; with our musicians, from Lagos, Onitsha, and Kano. And I have spoken to small and large businesses.
“I stood where they stood and sat where they sat. I know their hopes, aspirations and fears; and I believe that in those hopes and aspirations are the seeds for the great Nigeria that we all desire.
“I believe that the very reason why the Almighty God gave me these experiences, these insights, and these opportunities, is that they must be put to the use of our country and it’s great peoples.
“Which is why I am today, with utmost humility, formally declaring my intention to run for the Office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
Osinbajo had at a dinner he hosted at the Presidential Villa for the breaking of the Ramadan fast (Iftar) on Sunday, informed the APC governors of his plan to succeed his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari, after the end of his tenure as President in 13 months’ time.
A senior advocate of Nigeria and a former lecturer at the University of Lagos, Osinbajo, who turned 65 last month, is also a senior pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Now that he’s thrown his hat in the ring, Osinbajo will face the likes of Bola Tinubu; the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi; and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State in the contest for the APC ticket.
Other APC notables rumoured to be nursing Presidential ambitions include: Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi; the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige. There is also the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, is being rumored as a strong contender.
