At last the long wait for General Buhari’s choice of Vice President has ended and the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been in the news in the past 24 hours. The emergence of Professor Yemi Osinbajo as General Buhari’s choice of running mate has been a welcome development generally, among Nigerians who want change and have since shown a high level of dissatisfaction with the status quo. Bear in mind, when the citizenries of a nation hint their dissatisfaction with a regime, rest assured they will express it the only way they can – with their votes. I will share 3 pertinent reasons the Buhari-Osinbajo candidacy beats that of Jonathan-Sambo
Strength of Character
It is best to be known for one positive trait consistently and to live by that conviction. General Buhari has always been a fierce canvasser for the ideals of integrity in governance. This is one fact many of his detractors will not admit and have continued to twist around. As a military ruler, General Buhari was an active promoter of discipline among civil servants. Even till this day, he continues to stand by his ideals, making him come across as a consistent and firm personality. What about Professor Osinbajo? He is known for his promotion of Christian ideals among Christians and their chosen endeavours. Prof. Osinbajo is Co-founder & Board Member Convention on Business Integrity and the Justice Research Institute Ltd. In 2007, Prof. and his wife Oludolapo founded “The Orderly Society Trust”, a non- governmental organization that is dedicated to the promotion of Christian ethics and orderliness. Professor Osinbajo has continued to have commendations pour in from his church members at RCCG and students as well. We don’t hear such first first-hand commendations from former students of President Goodluck Jonathan in Bayelsa. Oh, sorry, as for Sambo, I usually have to remind myself, we have a Vice President.
Intelligentsia
There are different kind of smarts. The Buhari-Osinbajo combo is a complementary one, brain-wise. General Buhari has proven himself as a ballsy man when it comes to stepping on toes, and when it comes to governance, backed by the mental fortitude to follow through on it. Let’s face it: to make a change as a leader, you need step on toes. You will offend selfish people who don’t mean well. This is what we need in the country now. You can promote any one Transformation Agenda all you want, if you do not have the mettle to deal with the scourge of corruption in Nigeria, you’d only be taking one step forward, two steps backward. If your “Transformation Agenda” has a road maintenance project of, lets say, 20 million Naira, corruption will inflate that amount to 60 million Naira as you would have many pot-bellies to satisfy in the process, long before the project kick-starts.
Professor Osinbajo (sighs). Do you really want me to start with that? And I don’t want to pursue you o. Oya take: SAN, Senior Partner in the Law firm of SimmonsCooper Partners. Professor of law and was the head of department of Public Law at the University of Lagos (1997-1999).Previously served as the Special Adviser to the Attorney General of Nigeria (1988-1992), he later became the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State in 1999 reappointed for a second term in 2003. During the period of his public service, he commenced the Lagos State justice reform project. A prominent feature of that project was the establishment of the Directorate for Citizens’ Rights (DCR) which provides free legal services and legal representation to indigent citizens of the state. This initiative gave a voice to many who would otherwise not have a way to access their rights.
Professor Osinbajo has authored, co-authored and edited several books and publications including “The Unification and Reform of the Nigerian Criminal Law and Procedure Codes” ; “Law Development and Administration”; “The Annotated Civil Procedure rules of The Superior Courts in Nigeria”; and “Cross Examination: A Trial Lawyer’s Most Potent Weapon”.
Prior to that appointment, Osinbajo, a Professor of Law, was the Head of Public Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos.
He is also the Ethics Adviser to the Advisory Board of the African Development Bank and is a non-executive Director of Citibank. He has served in various roles within the United Nations, United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporations, the United Nations African Institute for Crime Prevention, the International Criminal court for Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania, the department of Peacekeeping operations and the United Nations Peace Operations in Somalia.
If you are still there saying “we want action, not grammar” let me tell you, you need highly intelligent people as political leaders in this modern world. The stakes are much higher, the pedestal is continually raised, and expectations keep soaring. Just keep quiet, if you don’t have anything better to say.
Guts, mettle and highly connected brain cells is what the Buhari-Osinbajo candidacy has.
Ah! Sorry, I forgot to compare with President Goodluck Jonathan. He is a zoologist and once helped us know the ‘difference’ between corruption and stealing. He also once used the ownership of private jets as an index for economic prosperity. As for VP Namadi Sambo, I need a little help with that.
Nigerians Want Them
…well, except for the obstinate few. Don’t worry, they will be converted, renewed and born again. Needless to say Nigerians want change and are tired, really tired. In my observation, this is not history repeating itself when Nigerians (excluding me) voted Goodluck Jonathan widely, because he had no shoes…or rather, because he told us he had no shoes. Nigerians have since become wiser no thanks to the economic hardship experienced of late. Let’s not even talk about impunity. This is a blog, not a PhD text material. By the way, your Alamieyeseigha is gunning for the Senate. Another one in the voice-mail. What about Stella Oduah? Abi you didn’t hear ni? Sorry for you.
Seriously, this is the chance we’ve been waiting for. If you are a youth like I am, get involved. Don’t buy hate words forced down your throat by President Jonathan’s attack dogs. Ask questions, analyse and have your own convictions; and if your plan is to collect 1000 Naira to vote ‘continuity’ come 2015, you are not worthy of the New Nigeria. Yes, I just said that.
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