•Will He Run With Al-MUSTAPHA?
Despite his series of press statements to debunk and distance himself from the forthcoming presidential race in 2023, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo’s name continues to make billboards, and social media noise, as the next President to beat in the coming election.
With less than 2
years into the presidential election in 2023, the bid by Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo to succeed his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari, continues to gain
huge recognition.
From the day that
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced February 18,
2023, as the date for the presidential election, various support groups from
different parties have sprung up baring logo and photos of their preferred
candidate for the coming election as Mohammadu Buhari, after serving to
uninterrupted terms would be handling the baton to the next best alternative
Although Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo has not declared interest in the 2023 presidential
race, his loyalists believe he perfectly ticked the box of the next president
of the country as visualised by Babangida. As of August 2021, no fewer than 6
groups have emerged to launch their respective campaign for the vice presidency.
One group under the
auspices of the Progressive Consolidation Group (PCG) launched an advocacy
campaign for Osinbajo to contest the 2023 Presidential Election. The National
Chairman of the PCG, Aliyu Kurfi told journalists in Abuja that the group had
paid courtesy visits to the Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari; and
the Emir of Daura, Umar Faruk, on the issue.
He stated that his
team had held strategic meetings with APC members from all the 34 local
government areas in Katsina State, on how to achieve success with the project,
maintaining that the group is formed based on the voluntary will for a better
Nigeria. Which they believe can only be possible with Osinbajo taking the baton
from President Buhari. Recall that PCG had earlier lobbied principal officers
of the National Assembly, governors and party stalwarts to canvass support for
the Osinbajo 2023 project.
Another support
group, The New Tribe (TNT) has also commenced a video campaign to showcase the
instances in which Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo condemned the killings of
Nigerians by armed bandits. Over the past few years, many parts of the country
have witnessed a series of violent attacks perpetrated by armed gangs —
bandits, insurgents and other criminal elements — leading to the deaths of many
Nigerians and the destruction of properties. Amid these killings, some
Nigerians have argued that Osinbajo has never condemned the killings or
expressed sympathy for the victims. In reaction, TNT kick-started the video
campaign to showcase some of the instances Osinbajo has condemned killings of
Nigerians, irrespective of religion and ethnicity.
More so, Osinbajo
Grassroots Organisation (OGO), yet another support group for Osinbajo, has
disclosed that plans are being concluded to begin grassroots mobilisation and
campaign for the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo’s presidency for consolidation
and continuity of Next Level agenda.
The group explained
that with his proven track record and supportive role to President Muhammadu
Buhari-led administration, it was important someone of Osinbajo’s calibre, who
is committed to project Nigeria and understand her dynamics, take the mantle of
leadership in 2023 and further drive the developmental agenda.
The group’s
National Convener, Foluso Ojo, said that with Osinbajo’s unique leadership
qualities, it was important members of the group take to streets, states across
the country in sensitising and educating Nigerians on why the likes of the vice
president deserve to rule Nigeria.
Ovation Publisher,
Dele Momodu later posted the campaign video on his Instagram page with the
caption: “Supporters mobilize for the Vice President PROF YEMI OSINBAJO ahead
of the 2023 Presidential election...” There is even a Whatsapp Group titled
2023 Osinbajo-Al-Mustapha: One Nation, One Destiny with 4 Group Admins
advocating the beauty of the duo running together.
Considering his
chances beyond 2023, pundits are of the opinion that VP Osinbajo fits into any
form of a requirement that the south may clamour, being a core Christian
southerner and possesses similar gentle and flexible virtue just as former
President, Goodluck Jonathan. who has been tipped to return in the race come
2023?
Born in March 1957,
Osinbajo a Professor of Law, had his undergraduate degree at the University of
Lagos, where he obtained a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) Degree in Law.
In 1979, he completed the mandatory one-year professional training at the
Nigerian Law School, where he was admitted to practice as a Barrister and
Solicitor of Nigeria’s Supreme Court. In 1980, he attended the London School of
Economics, where he obtained a Master of Laws degree.
Political observers
are of the view that Osinbajo is the most eligible to take over from Buhari in
2023. First, he is a Christian of the Pentecostal denomination. Two, he is from
the South-west. Three, he is in his sixties. His capacity and capability to
combine both politics and the economy for smooth governance is equally not in
doubt.
It is also worthy
of note that VP Osinbajo has a firm relationship with the national leader of
the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has also been penned down for the
race. While Asiwaju has not openly declared his intention, indications from his
inner circle equally show that all is in order to join the race.
Nevertheless,
having walked with Buhari for eight years, no one can sell the programmes of
the administration better or be able to sustain the programmes of the regime
which is predicated on the tripod of economy, corruption and security. An
Osinbajo presidency would ensure the continuity of the Buhari administration.
-Seun Joseph
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