Ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary, a pro–Osinbajo Youth group, ‘Coalition of Arewa Youth and Women for PYO 2023’, has claimed that the phrase credited to President Muhammadu Buhari regarding his choice of presidential candidate, whereby he stated: ”I want to pick my successor”, could be referring to the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN).
This was contained in an issued press statement by the Spokesperson of the group, Mohammed Lawal, yesterday.
Recall that President Buhari had, during his meeting with the 23 APC governors, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, advised the party to think of the right candidate to succeed him after his tenure in 2023.
The group said the president should not go too far in his search for a successor, as the vice-president possessed the qualities for the nation’s coveted seat.
It noted that the experience the vice-president had garnered for over seven years as second-in-command to Buhari stood him out among the arrays of the APC’s presidential aspirants, including the APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu; the Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi; former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, among others.
According to the Arewa group, Buhari should look inward and pick his vice, who’s endowed with a series of sterling qualities as one to succeed him in 2023.
They acknowledged that the APC paraded eminently qualified presidential personalities but noted that a man with an exceptional political, and professional stand such as “Vice -President Yemi Osinbajo”, could not be ignored.
The group further said, “Although there are so many presidential aspirants, only one of them is standing taller, higher, more competent, accepted, tested, and trusted. A man who has been president in an acting capacity, a professor of Law, and an exceptional political breed of his rare kind.
“Across Nigeria, from the North to the South, East to West, you find Professor Yemi Osinbajo with the Muslims and Christians, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Igede, Idoma, Ibibio, Ekwere, Ishekiri and others, for unity, peace and development to prevail in Nigeria.
“He is a de-tribalised Nigerian, a man who is only defined by his humanity, philanthropy and respect for all, irrespective of tribe, religion and political affiliation; indeed, he is a symbol of national unity. A leader with impeccable qualities of leadership, one of the best and rare politicians of our time.
“This intelligent pillar of hope, vibrant, discipline leader, and bulldozer of work has a vast wealth of knowledge and experience.
“By far, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is the most active, most initiative, and intelligent vice-president Nigeria has ever produced. This is evident in the initiation and sustenance of the largest social investment programmes in Africa, which comprises of the N-Power Programme, which currently employs 500,000 graduates; the GEEP loans (Market Moni, Farmer Moni, and Trader Moni), providing credit to over 3 million Nigerian traders, artisans and businessmen; the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, amongst others”.
It added that “Osinbajo has also used his office as the Vice-President to add to the economic strength of Nigeria by inviting foreign investors who saw and believed in the potentials of Nigeria to come and invest. These and many other initiatives of his have helped in stabilising and boosting the economy, contributing greatly to the reduction of poverty and creation of more jobs for our teeming youths.
“Also, as the Vice-President, he has always been key to the success of this regime, and that of Nigeria, and due to his wealth of experience, strategy and political mastery, President Muhammadu Buhari left him in charge as Nigeria’s acting President when he travelled in 2017 & 2018 – a task he carried out so well, diligently and efficiently enough to assure Nigerians that the President left the country in good hands”.
“With such unbeatable track records of this distinguished pan–Nigerian of our time, a symbol of national unity, a true federalist, full of integrity, active and smart, whose foresight is really worthy of saluting and emulating, we are left with no option but share this with Nigerians as the reasons why Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), should be the successor of President Muhammadu Buhari”.
