Osinbajo to Nigerians: Reject politicians using sectional sentiments

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has advised Nigerians to reject politicians trying to use “sectional sentiments” to grab power.

The vice president gave the advice on Monday while speaking at the inaugural conference of APC Professional Forum themed ‘The Role of Professionals in Politics and National Building’ held at the Old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

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He also said professionals who are politicians must stand out as people acquainted with an assessment based on their achievements and used to making competence as the first means of showcasing their acumen.

He said there was no point to have professionals in politics if they were “driven by ethnic, religious and other parochial considerations”, stressing that “the whole point of professionalism is that you are defined by merit, you are defined by your professional acumen.”

Osinbajo stressed the need for all stakeholders to realise that it was no longer sustainable to keep finding individual solutions to collective challenges.

While fielding questions, the senator representing Nasarawa Central, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, said efforts would be made to make people considering politics a profession to lose their jobs.

Earlier, Dr Isa Yuguda, former Governor of Bauchi State and Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), APC Professionals Forum, said the success of any political party in government was majorly dependent on the delivery of democratic dividends and good governance to the people.