On Monday morning, the internet went abuzz with the declaration of Vice President Yemi Osibanjo to contest for 2023 presidency. There have been rumours of his intention but he had not come out to officially make his intentions known to Nigerians. Though, some have misgivings over his ability to deviate away from the administrative lapses of his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari.
His promises in the declaration are great but some are of the view that he could have advised his boss to implement some of the promises he has just made to Nigerians. But as vice president, his advice is not bound to be accepted by the president. Again, a vice president has no say in government, he only acts in the absence of the president.
True to that, any time the president is out of the country and he hands over to him, he delivers and that all Nigerians know and can attest to. Within the few days he holds sway as acting president, there are usually record changes in the administration.
Among all the presidential aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rotimi Amaechi, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Yahaya Bello, Osibanjo is the only one with requisite qualification and acceptable by Nigerians to be president after Buhari. He has good ideas and brain to pilot the affairs of Nigeria. And that he has proven overtime.
In the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), there are many in the race. But the only acceptable person, who has won the hearts of all Nigerians across political, religious and tribal sentiments, is Peter Obi, the former Anambra state governor and former 2019 vice presidential candidate. He has been endorsed by all Nigerians.
Reading through comments immediately he made his declaration, one can see the love Nigerians have for Peter Obi. The comments put aside political party affiliation, religious sentiment, geographical zone and language. From the comments, one could see he is a darling to Nigerians. There was no accusation against him as the case with others.
Aspirants like Nyesom Wike, Atiku Abubakar, Bukola Saraki, Waziri Tambuwal and some others have received series of backlash from Nigerians but not so with Peter Obi. Infact, all comments were indicative of Obi being the only man fit for the Nigerian presidency in 2023.
If Nigeria were a country well wired, all other aspirants in the party, even APC are supposed to step down and give Obi expressway to the presidency. This is due to the wide acceptance of Obi by the Nigeria public.
However, since election must be done, and from public opinion, Peter Obi of the PDP and Yemi Osibanjo of the APC are the best hands to square up in the main contest for the presidential election. The two have what it takes to govern Nigeria and build a great nation for all Nigerians. This is my view as a bona-fide citizen of the federal republic of Nigeria.