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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