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| Prof. Yemi Osinbajo |
The All Progressives Congress
presidential candidate, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Wednesday
announced Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as his running mate, thus putting to an
end, days of speculations on the issue.
Osinbajo was the Lagos State
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice when the APC National
Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was governor.
The Ogun State-born serving pastor of the
Redeemed Christian Church of God, is married to a granddaughter of the
late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Decked in a dark suit, a white shirt and a red tie, he promised, in his acceptance speech, to rebuild Nigeria with Buhari.
Before Buhari formally unveiled him at
the APC national headquarters in Abuja, Tinubu had issued a statement in
which he said that the APC presidential candidate offered him(Tinubu)
the position of running mate.
The former Lagos State governor, who was
reported to have had interest in the post, explained that he rejected
the offer because of his decision to remain a bridge builder across all
divides.
While presenting Osinbajo, Buhari said,
“To assist me in this great task of securing Nigeria’s future, I have
chosen a man of unimpeachable integrity, an excellent professional, a
man of faith, a devoted family man and a role model to our fellow
countrymen and women.
“He is a professor of Law and a Senior
Advocate of Nigeria. An alumnus of the University of Lagos and the
London School of Economics. He is a prodigious author who has to his
credit several books on civil procedure in Nigerian superior courts.
“The vice-presidential candidate is a friend of the less privileged, compassionate and zealous in service.
“A man of uncommon humility, a loyal,
dependable and selfless patriot. He is Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who by the
grace of God and the vote of Nigerians, will be the next vice-president
of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.”
Buhari expressed gratitude to Nigerians
for their growing support since his election as the APC presidential
candidate for the February 14, 2015 poll.
According to him, the huge acceptance of
the APC and his candidacy by Nigerians had boosted his resolve to lead
the process of rebuilding Nigeria and securing “our future.”
He recalled that in his acceptance
speech, he pledged to run an efficient government, fight corruption and
indiscipline in “our national life” if elected president.
The APC candidate also promised to end
the current regime of fear and uncertainty in the country and place
priority on national security.
He pledged to rebuild our battered
economy and reduce poverty by deliberate policies that would lead to
the creation of jobs for Nigerian youths.
Buhari said, “The challenging process of
rescuing our country and changing Nigeria for good has commenced. One of
the first decisions that I have to make is the choice of my running
mate.”
Explaining the delay in the announcement
of his running mate, the former Head of State, said the method employed
in choosing Osinbajo was “quite meticulous but yet rigorous.”
He said that it involved the
establishment of objective criteria, broad consultations with party
leaders and a few opinion leaders outside the party as well as
interactions with a number of nominees.
Accepting the offer, Osinbajo said he was
privileged to be offered the opportunity to serve as Buhari’s running
mate. He explained that he had consulted widely before taking on the
task.
The former commissioner said, “The task
of rebuilding this nation is one to which I am fully committed. There
can be no other President, Leader and commander that can lead that
common sense revolution Nigeria urgently needs than Gen. Buhari.
“I will proudly serve this country with
him. Gen. Buhari’s uprightness and fierce commitment to good governance
are well known. It will be a privilege to work with him.
“I come to this assignment with a lot of
hope and a resolve to be a part of this movement to bring Nigeria back
to its lost glory. With the support of all Nigerians and the help of
God, we shall make Nigeria work again.
“I will work with him and the party to
restore hope and confidence in millions of our youths and provide
comfort and security for millions of our countrymen and women.”
The selection of the APC
vice-presidential candidate had generated intense debate and interest
since the emergence of Buhari as the presidential candidate last Friday.
Governors Rotimi Amaechi(Rivers); and
Babatunde Fashola(Lagos); as well as a former governor of Ekiti
State, Kayode Fayemi; Senator Chris Ngige and former National Chairman
of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, had
previously been tipped for the vice presidential slot.
It was learnt after the unveiling of
Osinbajo that Amaechi would be named the Director-General of the APC
presidential campaign.
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