..Why he may be Tinubu’s trump card
In the wake of the increasing agitations by separatists across the country, one “official” voice which has been loud in calling for unity is that of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
While many political pundits have continued to ascribe political colourations to his recent outings, the vice president has often said he is focused on his current assignment and should not be distracted.
However, feelers within the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), show that the vice-president is in the epic position for the top job due to the confidence reposed in him by a cross-section of political stakeholders.
Firstly, he is said to have the confidence of his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari. Recall that on the occasion of Osinbajo’s 64th birthday in March, President Buhari had described Osinbajo as “a reliable and dedicated deputy”.
While many critical stakeholders of the ruling party are currently rooting for an Osinbajo presidency, some also see him as Tinubu’s likely candidate, especially in the event that Tinubu decides not to run.
At several fora, the No. 2 citizen, who seems to have a flawless understanding of Nigeria’s existential threats, has never failed to proffer some broad-based solutions.
To Osinbajo, Nigerians have more to gain from being citizens of a united country than they may derive from any secessionist entity that emerges from the nation’s fragmentation.
Speaking at the National Social Cohesion Dialogue organised by the Africa Polling Institute and the Ford Foundation and held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, last month, Prof. Osinbajo, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event noted that Nigeria’s challenges are not insurmountable and that many countries have undergone and are undergoing similar trials as part of their historical evolution.
He, however, conceded that the dialogue was holding against the backdrop of economic adversity, inflamed fault lines and social resentments; the insurgency in the North-East, kidnappings and terrorist acts in the North-West and threats of secession in the South-East and South-West.
He asserted that advocates of the country’s disintegration were overlooking the strong economic ties that have developed which now make unity an economic necessity.
The Vice-President stated that Nigerians do not hate one another but must stand for fairness, inclusion and justice that have driven wedges between communities.
In particular, the Vice President stressed that various forms of systematic discrimination are obstacles to national integration.
