Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) is Nigeria’s biggest political revelation in recent times. Since his stint as Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in Lagos State, he has demonstrated capacity, excellence, and dedication to duty as virtues of governance. Now as the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, these virtues still live with him and are, no doubt, worthy of emulation.
Since May 2015 when he was sworn in as the vice-president, the professor of law has demonstrated matchless courage, fearlessness, boldness yet submission to his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari.
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The respected senior advocate of Nigeria who is arguably the most active Vice-President since Nigeria entered its Fourth Republic, is a man of courage who does not shy away from taking strong yet difficult decisions in the interest of Nigerians.
In describing him, the Senator representing Osun Central in the Senate, Olusola Adeyeye, once said, “Osinbajo has been the most fearless champion of federalism in this country.”
Also, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, at a book launch in 2012, extolled Osinbajo. “The capability and firmness of Osinbajo in my time of travails made me triumph against every plan by my detractors to destroy my image and my career,” the former Lagos governor said.
It is also on record that Osinbajo never stampeded the judiciary when he acted as President. The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, got a fair hearing and was first granted bail when Osinbajo was the Acting President.
Also, in August 2018, while President Buhari was away and handed over to Vice-President Osinbajo as Acting President, the professor of law demonstrated firmness when he sacked the then Director-General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura, and directed that he be handed over to law enforcement agents immediately after his appointment was terminated. Daura had embarrassed the nation and the Presidency when his men invaded the National Assembly.
The siege by the DSS caught most employees of the National Assembly unawares as cleaners, bankers, reporters, and others who had business to transact within the complex were prevented from entering the premises.
The security officials used an unmarked white Coaster bus and two black Hilux pickups to block the main gate leading to the National Assembly.
Osinbajo, a man of discipline, took a bold step the same day and fired Daura, and appointed Matthew Seiyefa as the DSS DG.
Earlier in February 2017, the Vice-President also in an acting capacity as the President sacked all the directors in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority at the time for gross incompetence that could have endangered the lives of the flying public.
Though detractors came up with all manner of criticisms, the fact remains that VP Osinbajo has been the bold lion who does not seize to do what is right no matter who’s is gored in as much as it is in the best interest of Nigerians, and whenever he has the opportunity to do so.
VP Osinbajo has always been dispassionate and non-sentimental about issues of governance, justice, and fairness and a man like him deserves the respect of every Nigerian.
Muhammad Sani writes from Kano State
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