By Emumena Michael
Former Chief Whip of the Senate and Senator representing Osun Central Senatorial District, Prof. Sola Adeyeye has enjoined Nigerians to consider Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as the successor of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, describing the Vice President as “the calm river that runs deep.”
Adeyeye said this in the weekend while delivering a keynote address at a gathering of over 30 support groups of Yemi Osinbajo at the Meena Event Center in Kano for the birth of what they called “The New Tribe”.
He stressed that Nigeria now stands at the cusp of a new birth and only a bold, brave, and tireless leader can take on the challenges of building lasting legacies on the foundation already laid by the Buhari administration.
Adeyeye stated that Osinbajo transcends all tribes and embodies the spirit of “The New Tribe”, where all Nigerians are treated fairly and equitably irrespective of religion, region, tribal and political affiliations.
“Next year, Nigerians will be summoned to make an exceptional judgment worthy of the times. The forces of history enjoin us to search carefully amongst us for a bold, brave and tireless leader with a resolve to take on challenges that may come our way. A leader with a strong vision for our nation’s future, one who has the courage to make unpopular decisions, a leader with the ability to put our times in the perspectives of history.
“At that supreme moment we have to get it right. I believe we have that leader in Yẹmí Osinbajo who personifies the calm river that runs deep. A decent and honorable man both in his private and public life.
“Indeed, we are faced with a number of challenges as a country, but truth be told, we have surmounted a number of them. The work of laying the foundation has taken us more time than we envisaged, but then, the fact that the critical building blocks are in place, in certain areas, is proof of progress and a sign that we are going in the right direction.
“We now stand at the cusp of a new birth at the most critical point in the life of our country. We are faced with the double task of deciding on which direction to go to move our country forward, and of choosing the person to lead us in that direction.
“For me, it is an easy choice to make. For millions of Nigerians, given a chance, it should equally be an easy choice to make except that many are mired in pessimism that arose from wanton betrayal by governments. For the new Tribe here gathered plus millions of our cohorts all over Nigeria, our choice is clear and simple!
“The moment has chosen for us a man that Providence has prepared for the task. The moment speaks to choosing a man who transcends all tribes, an embodiment of the new Tribe defined not by the cacophony of dialects but the symphony of our common humanity. The moment requires a man who is able to galvanise the ideals and ideas that will unfold the beckoning glory of a new Nigeria.
“My compatriots, history is encapsulated in moments. This moment of Nigerian history, has itself chosen a man and that man is Professor Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Yemi Osinbajo is the man of the moment for Nigeria. He is well-grounded and adequately prepared. A tested and trusted hand, with the right temperament, the intellectual fire power, and governance ethos best suited for this moment. Yemi Osinbajo is the man for the moment. Not for his own sake, but for the sake of our country, Nigeria,” Adeyeye said.
Earlier while speaking on why the groups came together, Engr. Nonso Nnamani from the Southeast said Nigeria is bigger than the interest of one tribe.
“This is a platform to celebrate the achievement of President Muhammadu Buhari and support a leader that can build on his legacies to the benefit of all Nigerians irrespective of tribes.
“We are not looking for a president of Southeast, Northeast, Southwest or Northwest. But we are looking for a President of the federal republic of Nigeria,” he said.
The support groups placed a strong demand on the Vice President to declare interest for the office of the President in 2023, vowing to mobilise Nigerians for actualisation of the project.
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