A pro-democracy organization, the Youth Advocacy Initiative, YAI, has pledged its support for the presidential aspiration of the sitting Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, saying that the 2023 presidential cap fits his head.
In a statement signed by its convener, Comrade Adekunle Akinde, the group believed that with his political pedigree and antecedents in the Nigeria’s political sphere, Osinbajo stands shoulder higher than several others who have thrown their hats onto the 2023 presidential race.
The statement averred that Osinbajo has cut his political teeth long before some of the current aspirants started the art of politicking, stating that he has been tested and found trusted in all the offices he had earlier held and in which he excelled.
Retrospectively, the statement reminded that Osinbajo was one time the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, where he performed excellently, pointing out that the state he served is bigger than some two countries combined in the world.
The statement added, “In addition to that, he is the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the position he has occupied for over six years. His performance as an acting President has exposed him as somebody who has learnt the art of good governance from the state to the federal level.
“Against this background, Osinbajo, being presently the highest political office holder in the country amongst the aspirants, no doubt, deserves consideration to succeed his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023. He is a loyal subordinate, a trusted alley, detribalised fellow, cool headed and brilliant scholar and sound Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.”
The group therefore urged the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, to put its house in proper order by putting perfect machinery on ground that would ensure that Osinbajo emerges the party’s consensus candidate at the primaries, stressing the need for continuity of the good work President Buhari has started.
The statement further expressed the belief that only the emergence of Osinbajo, who had understudied his boss closely for these years, can guarantee the required continuity, saying it would amount to a political blunder if the APC makes the mistake of throwing up a candidate that has the trial and error tendency.
They concluded, “If that happens, Nigerians would not forgive the APC and its leadership for such would be seen as deliberate act of sabotage against the good people of this great country. So, we urge all well-meaning citizens of this entity called Nigeria to rise up and prevail on the party to do the needful, so that the good work of its administration would not be blown into the wind out of last minute indecision.”
