Members of the academia have endorsed Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as President of Nigeria after Muhammadu Buhari.
The body of Professors who handed over the endorsement ticket to Vice President Osinbajo said “the academics were convinced of the VP’s capability to lead a more prosperous Nigeria, hence their resolve not only to endorse him, but also offer their expertise and do what it takes to ensure that the VP emerges victorious.”
The Professors who were on a courtesy visit to the Vice President at the Presidential Villa, pledged to embark on activities, including media engagements, community mobilization, and partnerships with other professionals to shape public opinion in a manner that will lead to a successful run by the VP in 2023.
The leader of the group, Prof. Shehu Adamu, the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, said the visit was to intimate the VP on activities and efforts of the group to support his aspiration to become Nigeria’s President.
Another member of the delegation, Prof. Nasiru Musa Yauri, the Vice Chancellor of the Al-Kalam University, Katsina, said
In a similar vein, Prof. Chukwuemeka Jaja Nwanegbo, the Head of Political Science Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, declared that members of the academic community “don’t want to sit back and watch the political terrain disallow you from emerging. So, we want to work with you, other professionals and students to actualise your bid.”
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The Vice President who thanked the academia for the endorsement, called on academics and members of other professional bodies to participate actively in the task of making Nigeria a better place for all.
According to the Vice President, “these days, you find all sorts of pretenders claiming expertise in everything under the sun without any real expertise. So, it is important that academics do not vacate that space to allow all sorts of people to begin to postulate on practically every issue.”
Recalling his experience as an academic who became an Attorney-General, the VP said: “One of the most important things I recall when I served first as Attorney General of Lagos State was that it is so important for those of us who are in academics to participate because not only are we among the more knowledgeable groups, we have also done more work.”
Continuing, the VP, while welcoming the interest of the Professors in the upcoming 2023 Presidential Elections, noted that “the path that you (the group) have chosen is a very crucial one because in the future, more intellectual groups will take the responsibility that is really theirs. And I think that for those of us who are from the academic community, it is a privilege that we have – being the intellectual crème de la crème of our society, and this comes with responsibility.”
He appreciated the group’s endorsement of his presidential aspiration and observed that “if there is any sort of endorsement that has given me particular joy, it is this one; because if one is endorsed by professional colleagues, people who live their lives by critical analysis and evaluation; it is worth celebrating.
While expressing appreciation, the VP expressed hoped that “we will work together to make a significant difference in our country.”
