Traditional rulers from Ogun State have endorsed Vice President Yemi Osinbajo‘s ambition to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
The royal fathers showered their endorsement on the Vice President when he visited Ogun State, where he met with traditional rulers, leaders of thought and state delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
At the Akarigbo of Remoland’s palace, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi extolled the VP’s qualities of integrity, competence and character, also noting the impact he had on governance as acting president.
According to the monarch: “We are all living witnesses to when our son was in charge as Acting President. We should be the difference in our country, and that was just within a matter of weeks and months. What would now happen if he becomes President for 4 years or 8 years? This country will undergo tremendous change.”
Also acknowledging the divine supremacy in choosing kings and leaders, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi prayed that God will grant the party, the strength, wisdom and courage to do what is right for the country.
Turning to the VP, the Akarigbo then said “by the grace of God, you will get there. Your light will continue to shine. It’s with such humility that I look at your life and I see the trajectory of what God has done.
“Mr Vice President, your journey is still long, but we will uphold you with prayers. Your days will be long, and you will continue to shine; the good Lord will continue to shine upon you, and at the end of the day, we will see that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
On his part, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, while addressing the Vice President, stated that “the Nigeria of our dreams will come in your time.”
Noting the VP’s excellence in academia, legal practice and government, the monarch said, “By the grace of God, our Vice President has paid his dues, gone through serving others and winning all the way.
“He had the same subjects in higher school like I had, and English that was the most difficult, he won laurels in it in higher school. Through his research work and his legal practice, he has been outstanding. So why shouldn’t we ask you for one more position to the glory of God and to the benefit of all Nigerians, and you’d say no? Certainly not from here.
“I pray that by the grace of God when you come back, you will come and say thank you to all of us. By the grace of God, in your time, it will be most beneficial to all Nigerians. The Nigeria of our dreams will come during your time. We have been waiting for this for so long and God will make it happen.”
Similarly, the Olu of Ilaro, who said he was always delighted to see the Vice President, assured the VP of his support and that of his constituency.
“The Almighty God that did that of His Excellency, Governor Dapo Abiodun, in spite of the turbulence, that same God will appear, because he’s still the same yesterday, today and forever, and will do the same in your life.”
Governor Dapo Abiodun also described the Vice President as an illustrious son of Remoland, Ogun State and Nigeria, noting that many can attest to the VP’s loyalty, steadfastness, sincerity, humility, character and integrity.
Assuring the VP of his support and that of the people of the state, Governor Abiodun thanked the “Vice President for his support “in the course of our journey to the statehouse.”
“Your Excellency, on behalf of the people, the government of your home state, we are indeed very grateful for all that you did to ensure that there was fairness, equity, and a level playing field in that contest that saw us to the government house. God gave us the glory, God gave us the victory despite all odds,” the Governor recalled.
He further stated that the VP’s treasure trove of experiences in government and the private sector speaks for itself.
Governor Abiodun noted that “if becoming the president is by qualification, you will earn it, you are in office today, as the vice president of Nigeria, you’ve served your boss meritoriously… and you have demonstrated capacity and capability. If the presidency is by the way of an award, we will just gather here today and we will award it to you.
“Your Excellency, you are a good man. We will be with you, we will stand with you, we will stand by you, we will give you that support, we will not betray you for you have stood with us and God will stand by you,” the Governor also prayed.
Vice President Osinbajo who spoke at the event stated that his decision to run for president was to give the best of his service and wealth of experience to the nation.
“If there is anybody who can hit the ground running, that person is me,” the VP declared.
“After I have spent seven and half years as Vice President of Nigeria and I have acted as president… the only question I should ask myself if I am called to run for office, is, who have I sworn an oath to?
“I have sworn an oath to the Federal Government of Nigeria. I’ve sworn an oath to our children and grandchildren to come, that with all of my knowledge, experience, and everything I have learnt; I will serve them.
“When it comes down to such a question, the only thing I am required to ask myself if after all of what I’ve learnt, after all of the experience that I now have, should I deny those to this nation? If it is possible for me to serve this nation, with everything that I have, should I say no?”
The Vice President noted that governing at the highest levels in the country required some experience and training, which he had expectedly garnered in over seven years serving as President Buhari’s deputy.
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He added that he had participated at both local and international levels of governance, as well as tackled sensitive issues of government, restating that “God did not provide those opportunities simply so that I’ll go and sit down and write my memoirs.”
“I believe that now, with all that I have learnt, all that God has given me, I cannot turn down the call to serve the people of this country, to serve our generations and generations to come.
“God provided those opportunities such that one day, I will be called upon to serve in the highest capacity, to serve as President of our nation. The opportunity to do so is an important one… The truth of the matter is that everywhere I have served, I served with utmost loyalty, utmost commitment, and I have put my reputation on the line, sometimes even life.”
While acknowledging the will of God and the people in his bid to clinch the APC ticket and contest the 2023 presidential election, Prof. Osinbajo said, “I believe that I have what is required at this time to serve this nation and to ensure that we’re able to build on what all generations previously have built, and to give this country the best leadership that can be given to it for and in 2023.”