As the number of those vying to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari swells by the day, the man who has served as his second in command has declared that he is the most prepared for the post.
“As vice-president, I have served under a president that has given me the opportunity to see for myself and observe at very close quarters, all that is required to run this very complex, very diverse nation, Nigeria,” Prof Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice-President, declared on Thursday.
Osinbajo made the declaration in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State, during a courtesy call on the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers. This was in continuation of his consultations in search of support for his choice first at the convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says he is the most prepared of all aspirants for the 2023 presidential election.
Those contesting against Osinbajo on the APC platform include Bola Tunubu; serving ministers in the government – Chibuike Amaechi; Dr Chris Ngige, and Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba. There are also governors, including Ben Ayade of Cross River State; David Umahi of Ebonyi State, and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State. One of the latest entrants into the race is Tunde Bakare, who was reported on Thursday to have picked the APC nomination form, at the price of N100 million.
“All of us are aware, that I have served as the vice-president and God helping us, I will serve until May 29, 2023, in that capacity.
“It is my desire that come that day, I will succeed our current president as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Osinbajo, a Professor of Law, said.
“I have also served on many occasions as acting president when the president was away.
“All of that have given me more than an insider view of how to effectively run the affairs of this country with its various challenges.
“I will say of all the contestants, and I will say so most humbly, clearly that I am the most prepared to hit the ground running.
“I will be ready on the first day of the assignment because I have seven years of training; I have the experience,’’ Osinbajo said.
While some people have criticized him for running against Tinubu, who is regarded as his political godfather, Osinbajo declared last week that it would be a disservice to Nigeria if he refused to run for the office, given his wealth of experience.
Meanwhile, there are moves among Yoruba political leaders to broker a truce among the contestants from the Southwest region with the aim of pruning down the number.
