Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has attributed his desire to run for the Presidency to the period he acted as President when President Muhammadu Buhari was away.
The Vice President who interacted with APC party leaders and delegates in Oyo State on Friday said “as you know, I also acted as President during certain periods when the President was away and everything I learnt as acting President has prepared me to run as President of our country.”
According to him, “in the 7 years that I have been involved, because the President considered it the right thing to do and, in his generosity, and openness, he gave me every opportunity to serve including sensitive international assignments.
“God doesn’t make mistakes. God is deliberate in everything He does and by giving me all of these opportunities to understand governance for myself at the highest level of our country, all of it was not just so that I can sit down and write a memoir, no, it was to come handy one day and I believe the time has come.
“I believe that the time has come and I have the responsibility to my country, to you, to all our children and the coming generations to give all of what I have learnt, everything I have learnt, all of the services to be able to give it to our country. To serve our country faithfully and honestly is my intention.
“One advantage I would have is that on day one, I can hit the ground running because I know what it takes.”
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He told the crowd that Nigeria needs leaders who deeply care about the common man as well as the progress of the nation.
Speaking earlier at the courtesy call on the Olubadan, the Vice President formally informed the monarch of his intention to run for President.
“As you know, on April 11, 2022, I declared my intention to run for the presidency of our great land under the flag of our party, the great party, the All Progressives Congress. I did so while taking into account the fact that our country needs all of those who are willing to serve it to the best of their capacity and knowledge.
“With great humility and sincerity, I come to your majesty, that after serving about seven years as Vice President, and also as acting, under our President, President Muhammadu Buhari, who truly gave me every opportunity; he opened up doors in a way that most deputies may not have experienced, and entrusting a lot to my care, including very sensitive positions.
“After all of that, I felt that it would be the right thing to do, to make that experience available to the people of our country. By the grace of God and the will of the people, if I am voted in as the President come 2023, I believe that there is so much to do. The desire of our hearts is that our country will be much greater and will be able to attain all of the great potentials of our people.”
In his remarks, the Olubadan described the Vice President as “a wonderful human being, a wonderful person.
“Hopefully, in God’s name, you will be President of Nigeria,” he told the VP, adding that “may Allah grant you success on what you have in mind, may Allah support you. I can spend the next two hours just praying for you.”
Ibadan High Chiefs present also expressed their support for the Vice President’s aspirations declaring that “we are with you.”
Other speakers including Senator Teslim Folarin, Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, Chief, Dr. Jacob Tilley-Gyado and the APC Chairman in Oyo State Hon. Isaac Ajiboye Omodewu all expressed support for the Vice President’s aspiration.
For instance, according to Akintola “when it comes to the candidacy of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, there are no factions at all.”
The Vice President who travelled with a number of National Assembly members from Abuja, was received by the Deputy Governor of Oyo State Engr. Rauf Olaniyan at the Ibadan airport. The Deputy Governor also joined the VP for the visit to the Olubadan.
Members of the National Assembly with the Vice President besides Folarin included Senators Adamu Bukkachuwa, Kola Balogun, Representatives Fatahu Muhammad, Odebunmi Olusegun, Shehu Saleh Rijau and Honourable Karu Simon.
