By Eniola Opeyemi
Twice, did God say that in King David he had found ‘a man after my own heart’ (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). David was one of God’s favourite. Just like it was in the old days, so it is now; Professor Yemi Osinbajo is God’s own.
The rise and rise of Professor Yemi Osinbajo, no doubt reflects God’s blessings, the result of hard work and loyalty, giving hope not only to the academia but also to professionalism in the nation. Nigeria’s political terrain has harbored the best script writers, actors and actresses whose precedents have almost put the nation on the path of political upheaval making us one of the most tensed up country across the world, owing to the sectionalism, nepotism all of which show that we are divided across various beliefs.
Osinbajo has since put the economy and the unity of the nation back on the right track especially with his supervision of the NSIP’s and the development of the MSMEClinics. He held fort when the President was ill and was found to be a faithful and loyal deputy. Yemi Osinbajo, has been quietly effective in addressing some of the crises affecting the country. Among other things, the VP met with stakeholders in the volatile yet oil-rich Niger Delta and addressed protesters demanding economic reform and an end to government corruption and this has led to the sustained peace being enjoyed in the region ever since.
The vice-president has never shied away from difficult topics. Visiting the Niger Delta Osinbajo said that young men in the region must be “properly engaged” to stop them falling into militant groups or participating in illegal refining of crude oil. Osinbajo also confronted rare public demonstrations in Lagos and in the capital, Abuja earlier in February, where hundreds of protesters decried the state of the country, and oppression by federal and military might.
Nigeria’s economy is striving to become less dependent on oil—which currently makes up more than 65 percent of our GDP and already some of the impact that the seeds sown by the VP are gaining ground. According to CNN last week, “Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, improved its ranking on the latest World Bank ease of doing business index.
The country now ranks 131 on the 2020 index, released last week. The Nation moved up 15 places from its 2019 spot and has been tagged as one of the most improved economies in the world for running a business. If we are to go by the records, the vice President deserves our gratitude and not humiliation.
Nonetheless, the cabals influence in Nigeria’s politics can’t be underrated as they perform more functions behind the scenes than most elected and appointed officials, some of these cabals surrounding the President have chosen to constantly undermine the Vice President. Rarely though would you see Osinbajo comment on this. Always showing maturity, professionalism and the humble figure he presents at home and in the church. The vice president has continually paid loyalty to his boss something which has paid off as his popularity keeps waxing stronger in the minds of the citizens.
Just recently, the powers around the President are out to prove that they have an axe to grind with the Vice President, always trying to undercut him at every political and nonpolitical setting. It has been said that Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to the President decides all that happens in the presidency, including the exclusion of the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, from getting closer to her husband and access to her residential wing of the villa.
Over the weekend in Kastina, the Chief of staff was cautioned and reprimanded severely by the Emir of Daura for breaking protocol and occupying the seats reserved for the Senate President and the Vice President with his own entourage.
The latest of all is the purported sacking of the the Vice President’s aides. An online newspaper, Daily Nigerian, had earlier reported that 35 aides were sacked. Funny that these same persons were those whose appointments and transfers to various ministries were confirmed by the President just before he went on his trip.
While clarifications are needed as to the relationship between the Chief of Staffs and the various allegations, it will be good all truce prevails in the best interest of the country, seeing that now, there are already confrontations, stand offs and shouting battles between himself and the Secretary General of the Federation.
There really is no need to be scared of a professor, he is only interested in making Nigeria great again and he’s shown evidence that he knows his onions so lets all shield our swords, 2023 is still 4 years away.
Eniola Opeyemi wrote from Lagos State
