By Our Reporter
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has formally declared his intention to contest for the presidency in 2023, adding that he took this decision after he consulted with President Muhammadu Buhari. He further added that he has looked around, and among the other aspirants who have shown interest so far none is as good a presidency material as himself.
Osinbajo stated this in a press release of which El-Rufai News Magazine has seen a copy. In his words, “Fellow Nigerians, a few moments ago, I met with President Muhammadu Buhari. I informed him that I wanted to succeed him as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Though it is not my life-long ambition, it has become imperative that to rescue Nigeria, we need someone to build on the achievements of President Buhari. I have looked around; I do not see anyone better suited to carry on that solemn assignment than my humble self.”
It would be recalled that it has been a matter of public speculation that the vice-president might declare his interest in the 2023 presidential race, especially after his political associate and leader, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu, made his intentions known a couple of weeks ago. It has also been speculated that the VP might not want to enter the race because of Tinubu who has helped his political journey thus far from the time he was Commissioner under Tinubu to his eventual nomination as the Vice Presidential candidate for the 2015 presidential race. However, the latest declaration by Osinbajo seems to have put paid to the speculation.
According to Osinbajo, “I took this bold step after a wide-ranging consultation with Nigerians of various ethnic, religious, and economic hues. I listened to market women and men, I sat down with the young and old, I heard from students and intellectuals, I broke bread with the unemployed and the underemployed, I accepted the counsel of traditional rulers and kingmakers across Nigeria, and more importantly, I weighed in the opinion of my wife and children. All the signals that I got were positive.”
The VP compared himself to other aspirants who have declared their intentions across the major political parties thus far and stated that he is the best in the field. “Unlike all those who want to rule you as their subjects, I offer myself to serve our great country, Nigeria, with utmost humility,” Osinbajo said.
He believes he is in the best position to continue with the policies that the Buhari-led administration has executed thus far. While also tracing his past, the VP said, “Growing up in Lagos, I did not know that I would be where I am today – one heartbeat away from the presidency of this great country. Having been here, having seen all parts of Nigeria from a close range, having worked beside a great but humble leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for almost seven years now, having interacted with leaders at federal, state, and local government levels, I have a burning desire in me to continue with Buhari’s master-plan for Nigeria.
“The master plan may not be clear to some of you, my compatriots, but there is a master plan coming together. The worldwide economic downturn, COVID-19 pandemic, and decades of lack of investments in Nigerian infrastructure may have blurred what President Buhari has achieved. But trust me, he has taken Nigeria to a new height. Though you may not feel it, you may not honestly say that you are better off today than you were in 2015, but believe me, in things that matter most, values and sincere leadership, our country is in a better place.”
However, speculations are rife that there may be a simmering and emerging rivalry that the political landscape will witness as 2023 draws closer considering that Tinubu is considered a political tactician and a politician with many tentacles across the nation, an attribute that some do not confer on the vice president. In spite of this, a possible support for Osinbajo by President Buhari, who may want his VP to continue with his policies post-2023 equally makes the VP a formidable aspirant.
