Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has shown an unwavering dedication to serving the people throughout his time in public service, says Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President.
Akande cited the Vice President’s dedication to his position, his hard work, leaving work late, staying up at midnight to complete a task and his determination to ensuring that the Social Investment Programme (SIP) of the administration was implemented successfully, as pointers to Osinbajo’s dedication to service.
Akande recalls the vice president telling him that, “we have limited time to spend in government, so whatever we are doing, we have to do it well.”
He added that: “It was an easy decision to leave the United States and return home to help in actualising the joint ticket of Buhari/Osinbajo.
“It was easy agreeing to work for Osinbajo because his reputation was already ahead of him,” Akande said.
Akande said when he left Nigeria in 1998 for the United States, he told God that he would love to return to Nigeria to work for a government, if that government was serious about reforms.
When Buhari picked Osinbajo as his running mate circa 2014, he knew it was an answer to prayers, he said.
“When Buhari picked Osinbajo as his running mate, I told my wife in New York that I am going to support that man. Not only would I sit here and support, I am going to go there and campaign for him,” Akande said, adding that Osinbajo had shown capacity by transforming the judiciary in Lagos as Attorney General from 1999 to 2007 under then Governor Bola Tinubu.
Akande said the last eight years “have been a very thrilling experience for me. I also consider it a great privilege and a wonderful opportunity to be able to serve your country at the highest level, especially for someone who always wanted to be a part of fixing the country.
“Serving for eight years with the vice president has been a great privilege. I always prayed to God that Nigeria will achieve its greatness,” he added.
According to Akande, Osinbajo showed his capacity, competence and character during his stint as Acting President for a combined 160 days.
“The kind of leadership the vice president has shown Nigerians and the kind of influence he has developed, especially among young people, it was clear to me by the time we got to 2022, that this man has to put himself forward. Because you couldn’t have done all of that, and then you have the opportunity and you just walk away.”