I am very happy, God has done an awesome thing,’’ was all the Vice-President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, could say when asked to react to the victory of the All Progressives Congress(APC) at last Saturday’s presidential poll.
To those in the know, Osinbajo’s emergence was down to nothing but sheer divine providence. He was busy facing his private legal practice when the APC chose him as the running mate of the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari. The choice, observers believe, was influenced by his impeccable character and competence.
But most importantly, Osinbajo has made a name for himself as pastor of Olive Tree Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Banana Island, Lagos. As a pastor, he was nominated to run on the APC ticket to counteract the Islamic fundamentalist tag placed on Buhari.
To political strategists, the ticket should easily attract the Christian community. But it hardly did. Many church leaders considered Osinbajo’s acceptance of the offer as a denunciation of his pastoral calling, which they argue was higher than the presidency.
Many prominent church leaders and preachers frowned at his entrance to the race. At a meeting last January in a prominent church, Osinbajo was barred from addressing major church leaders brainstorming on the position to take on the presidential race. Forces loyal to President Goodluck Jonathan said Osinbajo should not address the gathering because it would appear like an expressed endorsement for his ambition.
When a group of Christian clerics organised an interactive meeting with him in February, a top CAN official ordered that the session should be called off. The organisers balked but the stay-action order prevailed. However, despite such open rejections from those he felt should be comfortable with his presidential ambition, Osinbajo soldiered on. The former Attorney-General of Lagos State decided to take his fate in his own hands. He took to the streets to market the APC’s presidential ticket.
His campaign, to observers, was novel and innovative. The Professor of Law boarded BRT buses in major terminals of Lagos much to the astonishment of co-passengers. He went on to meet them one after the other, explaining what the party intended to do, if elected. He also met with market women in their shops, selling the party’s manifesto to them. To the ordinary folks, it was unprecedented to have a high-profile political office seeker like him meet them. They felt important and gleefully posed for photographs with him. That sold the message to common folks that Osinbajo will not forget them when in power.
But these approaches, some people, said were time-wasting and ineffectual. “How many votes can you win, meeting with such people?” one of them taunted. Many also dismissed his many town hall meetings as elitist and too low-profile. To the lily-livered, such snide remarks could be demoralising. But not to a brave, confident personality like the Senior Partner of Simmons Cooper Partners (Barristers and Solicitors).
When our correspondent demanded to know if such talks affected him, he simply said: “We know what we are doing. We are doing the right thing and we do not seek the praises of men. We are motivated by the people and anything that will make us connect with them would be appropriate, regardless of how others see it.”
What critics couldn’t take away from him, however, is brilliance. At different interactive sessions he attended, he shone brighter and brighter. He took the pains to explain how the much talked-about change will affect Nigerians and how things would be done. He ended most sessions with standing ovations with participants marvelling at his sharp brains and brilliant ideas.
As the number two man, from May 29th, he is expected to bring to bear his vast experience as former Attorney-General in Lagos State for eight years. He also had a stint from 1988-1992 as an Adviser (Legal Advice and Litigation) to the then Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Bola Ajibola.
His brilliant mind and legal background, observers say, will assist the presidency in navigating the nation through the process of change for accelerated growth and development. His gentle disposition should also serve as a calming influence during the tough four years ahead. Statutorily, the vice president coordinates the economic team, a role Osinbajo will find very comfortable, having been an inner caucus of a team that saw a cosmopolitan state like Lagos through a period of financial reengineering. As a technocrat VP, he should find the role very familiar and easy to deal with.
For sure, his place in history is secured for daring to accept an offer that appeared suicidal and braving the odds to add real value to the presidential ticket and wooing voters to choose the APC ahead of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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