BY Fredrick Nwabufo
Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has made his first public appearance with Yemi Osinbajo, a professor of law and his running mate in the 2015 presidential election.
Buhari formally made the announcement of his running mate at the APC secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, saying: “I wish to thank all Nigerians and friends of Nigeria who have continued to send messages of goodwill and congratulations to me and the party since my election as the presidential flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress(APC).
“The huge outpouring of support and acceptance has been a great encouragement to me and hardened my resolve to lead the process of rebuilding a New Nigeria and securing our future.
“In my acceptance speech, I pledged to run an efficient government, fight corruption and indiscipline in our national life. I promised to end the current regime of fear and uncertainty in our country and place priority on national security. I also pledged to rebuild our battered economy and reduce poverty by deliberate policies to create jobs.”
Buhari said the challenging process of rescuing the country and changing it for good had commenced, and one of the first decisions he had to make was the choice of the vice-presidential candidate.
“The method employed in this choice was quite meticulous yet rigorous. It involved the establishment of objective criteria, broad consultations with party leaders and a few opinion leaders outside the party and interactions with a number of nominees,” he explained.
“To assist me in this great task of securing Nigeria’s future, I have chosen a man of unimpeachable integrity, an excellent professional, a man of faith, a devoted family man and a role model to our fellow countrymen and women.
“He is a professor of law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. An alumnus of the University of Lagos and the London School of Economics. He is a prodigious author who has to his credit several books on civil procedure in Nigerian superior courts.
“The vice-presidential candidate is a friend of the less-privileged, compassionate and zealous in service. A man of uncommon humility, a loyal, dependable and selfless patriot.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I present Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, who by the grace of God and the vote of Nigerians will be the next vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
In his acceptance speech, Osinbajo said he was deeply honoured and grateful to have been nominated as the vice-presidential candidate of the party.
“I also thank the leaders and elders of our great party, APC, for the trust reposed in me.
“The task of rebuilding this nation is one to which I am fully committed. There can be no other president, leader and commander that can lead that common sense revolution Nigeria urgently needs than General Muhammadu Buhari. I will proudly serve this country with him.
“General Buhari’s uprightness and fierce commitment to good governance is well-known. It will be a privilege to work with him. I come to this assignment with lots of hope and a resolve to be a part of this movement to bring Nigeria back to its lost glory. With the support of all Nigerians and the help of God, we shall make Nigeria work again.
“I will work with him and the party to restore hope and confidence in millions of our youth and provide comfort and security for millions of our country men and women.”
Regarded as a confidant of Tinubu, national leader of the APC, Osinbajo co-founded, Convention on Business Integrity, a non-governmental organisation that champions accountability in business and government.
He has been active in civil society since he left government, and he is also a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
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