The Vice-President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, officially declared to run for the 2023 presidential election.
Osinbajo made the declaration in a video released via his Twitter handle after months of extreme speculations.
The Vice President said, “In the past seven years, I have served as Vice President under a true Nigerian patriot, a servant of the nation in war and peace, and a man of integrity, President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We have, together, worked through some of the most difficult times in the history of our Nation, but we have remained focused on securing the country, providing infrastructure and growing our economy.
“As stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution, our tenure will end next year.
“In this period of seven years, I have served the government in several capacities, and have, at the direction of Mr. President, represented our country in sensitive high level international engagements. I have been to practically all local governments in Nigeria. I have been in markets, factories, schools, and farms. I have been in agricultural, mining and oil producing communities; in the Delta, in Kebbi, Enugu, Borno; Rivers, Plateau and Ondo; and in all other States of the federation, listening to the diverse experiences and yearnings of our people.
“I have visited our gallant troops in the North East and our brothers and sisters in the IDP camps. I have felt the pain and anguish of victims of violent conflicts, terrorist attacks, flooding, fire and other disasters.
“I have been in the homes of many ordinary Nigerians in various parts of the country. I have sat with our techprenuers in Lagos, Edo, and Kaduna, with our Nollywood and Kannywood actors; with our musicians, from Lagos, Onitsha, and Kano. And I have spoken to small and large businesses.
“I stood where they stood and sat where they sat. I know their hopes, aspirations and fears; and I believe that in those hopes and aspirations are the seeds for the great Nigeria that we all desire.
“I believe that the very reason why the Almighty God gave me these experiences, these insights, and these opportunities, is that they must be put to the use of our country and its great peoples.
“Which is why I am today, with utmost humility, formally declaring my intention to run for the Office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress.”
“I also most solemnly and respectfully seek your support as fellow Nigerians everywhere in this land and the diaspora, as we embark on this great and exciting journey that lies ahead of us. It is time”.
Earlier, The NIGERIAN OBSERVER reported that Osinbajo at a dinner he hosted at the Presidential Villa for the breaking of Ramadan fast (Iftar), informed the APC governors of his plan to succeed his boss, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), whose tenure as President ends in 13 months’ time.
It was learnt that no fewer than 12 APC governors out of the 23 were present at the meeting.
The Vice President, who turned 65 last month, is a senior advocate of Nigeria and a former lecturer at the University of Lagos. He is also a Senior Pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
It was gathered that he began his public office career in 1988 as an Legal Adviser to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bola Ajibola, a position he held for four years.
Osibanjo was appointed Attorney-General of Lagos State in 1999 by then Governor, Bola Tinubu, where he implemented several judicial reforms.
He was nominated as Buhari’s running mate in 2014 and was elected together with Buhari in 2015. During his seven-year tenure as Vice-President, Osinbajo served as the Acting President for more than 120 non-consecutive days while his Boss was on medical leave in London between 2016 and 2018. It was gathered that he brought smiles on the faces of Nigerian for the short period in office as Acting President.
Osinbajo will be contesting the APC Presidential primary against his former boss, Bola Tinubu; the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi; and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.
Others in the APC who are rumoured to be nursing Presidential ambitions include: the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige. The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele and Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi.
In a related development, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress and presidential aspirant, Bola Tinubu, yesterday, met with members of the Progressives Governors Forum at the Kebbi State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.
The meeting came less than 24 hours after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo hosted the governors at his Aguda House residence on Sunday evening; where he informed them of his intention to run for the APC presidential ticket.
Although Tinubu has not officially declared his interest to run for the 2023 presidential election, but in January, he informed the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), of his intention to succeed him.
The Governors presence include Governors Bababjide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, Mai Mala Binu of Yobe, Simon Lalong of Plateau, Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, amongst others.
