Osinbajo pitches his knowledge, experience, and temperament as fitting
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday separated himself from the crowded field gunning for the Villa by pitching his training at the centre of power that would have spanned eight years by May 2023 which clearly distinguishes him from the pack.
He pitched that he is the only person fully trained to be the next President among other aspirants and his current vantage perch as Vice President makes him the best fit for the top job.
Truly, no Vice President has become the main man in the previous seat of federal power on the Marina during civilian administration or in Dodan Barracks – both in Lagos – during the military juntas or in the new seat of power in Aso Rock, Abuja.
Except Goodluck Jonathan under Umar Yar’Adua. But Jonathan understudied the post for just three years.
Olusegun Obasanjo came fairly close for less than six months between 29 July 1975 and 13 February 1976 when he was Deputy to Murtala Mohammed who ruled as military Head of State during the period.
Obasanjo served three years as military Head of State from February 1976 to September 1979, and as civilian President for eight years from May 1999 to May 2017.
And Muhammadu Buhari, who was military Head of State for about one and a half years from December 1983 to August 1985, was elected civilian President in May 2015 and would have served eight years at the end of his two terms in May 2023.
But both Obasanjo and Buhari were military dictators prior to becoming civilian Presidents. There is no comparison between dictatorship and democracy.
Jonathan was civilian Vice President to Yar’Adua from May 2017 to May 2020 when Yar’Adua died and he became President till May 2015. However, Jonathan learnt the ropes for only three years before he became President.
Osinbajo’s advantage
Osinbajo is, therefore, right to claim he is the best trained in a democratic setting to pivot to the plum job coveted by all commers.
By 29 May 2023, he would have amassed eight years of study at the highest level of federal civilian governance – covering Nigeria’s geopolitics, the economy, security, social engineering, international relations, and other spheres.
He has also at a point served as Acting President, during which he showed his mettle, he stressed, and he is determined to use these experiences to serve Nigeria with all sincerity and transparency.
None of the other contestants in the All Progressives Congress (APC) or Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can claim to have this training, Osinbajo insisted.
He made the point in a statement he issued through his media aide Laolu Akande who recorded his speech when he visited the Deji of Akure, Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo, while out on the hustings in Ondo State.
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A fortunate man
“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),” Osinbajo said, per reporting by Nairametrics.
“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.
“I feel that with what God has given me within the past seven and a 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 those capacities as VP and Acting President in particular, I got to know so many things that many people would never have ever come across, and I gained a lot of experience on that account. Now, the opportunity has come.
With God’s grace, to serve at the highest capacity
“With the experience I have, the contacts and connections that I have made, locally and internationally, I think that it would be a betrayal to our country, to our nation, not to accept to serve the country.
“If with all that has been given to me by the grace of God, with all of my experiences, to say that, oh, I will now retire quietly either to Lagos or Ikenne, and go and be writing my memoirs; it would be a grave injustice to our country.
“That is why I decided to pour my heart into it, and ensure that I make this case for the position of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“And I believe that with God helping, if God gives us the opportunity, and the will of the people also, God will make it happen; I will have the opportunity to give this nation the very best that I can give, with all of our hearts, in everything that we can, with sincerity, openness and transparency.
“That is the desire of my heart.”