2023: Igbo group begs Osinbajo to contest, ‘our VP is capable,’ says Gov Uzodinma

Osinbajo
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, acknowledging cheers from Owerri residents, as he attends the 29th Edition of the MSME Clinics, with him is Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, on Tuesday, December 14, 2021. Photos: State House/Tolani Alli

By Kehinde Adeoye

A National Coalition Group (NCG), populated by Igbo people from the Southeastern part of the country, has joined the league of Nigerians from different geo-political zones begging Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to contest for President come 2023.

The group led by Dr Eli Eberechukwu Dibịa, who mobilised its members to Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Tuesday, during the Vice President’s working visit to the Southeastern state, called on Osinbajo, to contest for the Presidency of Nigeria in the 2023 general elections.

Dibia, the National Secretary of NCG, speaking to the press at the event, said they were in Owerri to mobilise support and show solidarity for Prof Osinbajo, “with greatest reassurance that the lgbos are supporting him wholeheartedly for President in 2023.”

Vice President Osinbajo, was in Imo State on a working visit to mark the 29th Edition of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinic, where he also unveiled a modern multi-million naira facility in Owerri to assist tailors and fashion designers in the production of garment and clothing items, which he said would improve the quality of locally made clothing.

ALSO READ: Osinbajo assures Nigerians of better living condition, inaugurates 200 MSMEs shared facility in Imo

Speaking at the event, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, who described Prof Osinbajo as “our amiable and capable Vice President,” commended the creativity of the Federal Government through the Office of the Vice President, in the actualization of the objectives of the MSMEs Clinics in the State. He described the Facility as a “wonderful thing,” commending the Vice President for its realization.

According to him, “the facility is equipped with modern fashion and garment making equipment not found anywhere in the Southeast. There is also 24 hours supply of electricity to ensure uninterrupted productivity inside the facility.

“What is now left is for the beneficiaries to move in with their skills, their destinies are now in their own hands. All thanks to the brilliant initiatives of our amiable and capable Vice President.

“On behalf of the government and people of Imo State, I commend the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, for the formal unveiling of the Imo MSME Shared Facility project. This laudable scheme is a collaborative venture between the FG, State Government and private sector partners.”

In appreciating the VP more, Governor Uzodinma said the event “is yet another testament of your commitment to the development of Imo State. We must thank our great leaders for this attention that they are always giving to our dear State.”

He noted that the facility commissioned by the Vice President was the fourth to be commissioned in the country, which it was said will service about 350 small business daily and over 110,000 each year, as it is comprised of 200 world-class, both manual and fully automated fashion, equipment.

Hence, it was for Vice President Osinbajo’s exemplary leadership, the National Coalition Group, speaking further through its National Secretary, Dibia, said it will be mobilizing state Governors, past and present National Assembly members, and elected All Progressives Congress (APC) executives across the nation, to ensure that Prof Osinbajo emerges the presidential standard-bearer of the ruling party and elected President subsequently.

“Osinbajo has demonstrated the leadership ability and experience needed to pilot the nation’s affairs at this time of her history and would make a true Nigerian president,” Dibia said.

“We are hoping for him to contest for the Presidency, we are begging him, we are seeking him to come and salvage the economy, to come and recover the youth and make the citizens laugh again.”

“We are doing this because Osinbajo is credible enough, he has an intimidating credential, he is humble”. We are not rooting for him because he’s a Yoruba man, we are doing this because if he becomes Nigeria president, we will all be happy for him”.

“Look at our flyers, you can see we have PDP governors and many APC governors behind us. We have done this in Lagos, Katsina, Nassarawa and many other states across Nigeria,” Dibịa said.

Over time, several national coalitions and interest groups, likewise professional bodies have been mobilising for support across the country, putting Prof Osinbajo under intense pressure as they urged him to contest for the 2023 Presidency, even when the Vice President has not shown interest in the highly coveted office, and has not spoken about his political future.