Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has formally and finally declared to run for the office of President in the 2023 general elections, putting an end to months and weeks of speculations.
“Dear Nigerians, for 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 served together, worked through some of the most difficult times in the history of our nation. But we have remained focused on securing the country, on providing infrastructure and growing our economy.
“As stipulated by the Nigerian constitution, our tenure will end next year,” Osinbajo says.
“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 in 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,” the vice president adds.
According to Osinbajo, 65, he is in the race to continue with the reforms the Buhari administration has commenced in security and intelligence architecture, justice sector, infrastructure, agriculture revolution, creating a tech economy that will provide jobs for millions, universal health coverage for all and in education.
Osinbajo was locked in a late night meeting with powerful state governors on the eve of his declaration.
He would go against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (in whose administration he served as Attorney General in Lagos for eight years), Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello and a myriad others, in the race for the APC presidential ticket.
Osinbajo is believed to be President Buhari’s preferred presidential aspirant ahead of the 2023 vote.
There are speculations that Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, is also interested in running for President on the APC platform.
The APC is Nigeria’s governing political party. The amalgamation of regional political parties displaced the PDP from the center in 2015.
Political parties have until the first week of June to settle for their presidential flag-bearers.
Nigeria holds its presidential election on Saturday, February 25, 2023.