Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo of Nigeria announced his candidacy for the 2023 presidential election on Monday. After months of intense anticipation, he made the announcement in a short broadcast via his Twitter feed.
Osinbajo said “I am today, with utmost humility formally declaring my intention to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of APC.” According to analysts, Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s nomination will split the Southwest governors and the ruling APC, especially the possibilities of a Southern president.
“In the past seven years, I have served as Vice President under a true Nigerian patriot, a servant of the nation in war and peace, and a man of integrity, President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We have, together, worked through some of the most difficult times in the history of our Nation, but we have remained focused on securing the country, providing infrastructure and growing our economy.
“As stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution, our tenure will end next year.
“In this period of seven years, I have served the government in several capacities, and have, at the direction of Mr. President, represented our country in sensitive high level international engagements. I have been to practically all local governments in Nigeria. I have been in markets, factories, schools, and farms. I have been in agricultural, mining and oil producing communities; in the Delta, in Kebbi, Enugu, Borno; Rivers, Plateau and Ondo; & in all other States of the federation, listening to the diverse experiences and yearnings of our people.
“I have visited our gallant troops in the North East and our brothers and sisters in the IDP camps. I have felt the pain and anguish of victims of violent conflicts, terrorist attacks, flooding, fire and other disasters.
Osinbajo, who turned 65 this month, is a former lecturer at the University of Lagos and a senior advocate of Nigeria. He also serves as the senior pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
He started his public service career in 1988 as a legal adviser to Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bola Ajibola, a position he maintained for four years.
The Vice-President was appointed Attorney-General of Lagos State in 1999 by then-Governor Bola Tinubu, and served in that capacity until 2007, during which time he implemented a number of judicial reforms.
In 2014, he was nominated to be Buhari’s running partner, and in 2015, he was elected alongside Buhari. Between 2016 and 2018, Osinbajo acted as acting President for more than 120 days when his principal was on medical leave in London during his seven-year stint as Vice-President.
Osinbajo will face Bola Tinubu, Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, Dave Umahi, the Governor of Ebonyi State, and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State in the APC Presidential primary.
Others in the APC rumoured to be eyeing the presidency include Kayode Fayemi, the Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, and Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment. Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, is also a possibility.
According to reports, an APC national leader met with the governors of the Southwest to seek their support, but sources suggest that only one of the governors came, feeding suspicions of split and devotion to the Vice President, who is also from the southwest.
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