By Oluwatobiloba Fademi
Nigerians have applauded Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN, for his grand bearing in the United States, as he seeks support and partnership for the successful implementation of the recently launched Nigeria’s energy transition plan.
For what many called Prof Osinbajo’s excellent representation of Nigeria’s interest abroad, in what now appears like a massive missed opportunity to have him possibly emerge as president in 2023, Nigerians are already missing the Vice President.
Consequently, ahead of the 2023 general elections, a cross-section of Nigerians have lamented the presidential primary election loss of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN at the All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention after close to three months of the presidential primaries held in Abuja.
They wondered why the leadership of the ruling APC leadership and its delegates who elected the party’s flag-bearer would miss an opportunity to elect a brilliant ambassador with sterling leadership qualities, VP Osinbajo, as the party’s candidate, someone whom they reckoned as a worthy ambassador, already celebrated across the African subregion, and among world leading nations.
ALSO READ: US VP Harris lauds Osinbajo’s on climate change, calls Nigeria’s VP an ‘extraordinary leader
Many Nigerians who reacted on the matter poured their minds into the comment section box under an Instagram video posted by GoldmyneTV on Sunday, September 4, 2022.
The video whose caption reads, “At Energy Transition Summit in the US, Osinbajo advocates Debt-for-climate Protection Deal for African countries,” has torrents of reactions, the majority of which were commendations for VP Osinbajo for being a great leader.
In the said video which has now been circulated through all various social media platforms, Vice President Osinbajo was seen speaking with his American counterpart, Vice President Kamala Harris at the ceremonial house in the White House.
In a well-articulated speech, the VP proposed a Debt-For-Climate Swap deal to achieve a just and equitable energy transition for Africa.
He said the swap deal if approved, would significantly advance the course of global net-zero emissions targets and facilitate energy access and the development of African countries.
Reacting to the development, many Nigerians took to the comment section box of the post to lay bare their anger and regrets that Prof Osinbajo did not emerge as the APC presidential candidate. They said the ruling party had a brilliant, cerebral, outspoken and smart Osinbajo, whom they allowed to lose out controversially, referring to the fallout of the contest.
Below are some of the reactions:
An Instagram user commenting via Bmtogb4ig said, ” If not for godfatherism, how’s this person (Prof Osinbajo) not a presidential candidate, instead of the other one, it is really sad. A man as eloquent, intelligent, smart and healthy as this is becoming second fiddle… and that is the jinx we should break by voting someone perceived to be capable of bringing decorum and normalcy to our systems. People should hold positions or get jobs based on qualifications and not based on the right or any sort of connection to higher authorities.”
Another responder commenting via @walteranga said, “This past seven years of Buhari would have been better if Osinbajo was the person travelling and meeting with other world leaders. But the cabals no gree the man see road.”
@DJ x-ray said, “APC had a smart card to play with this man and win 2023…”
Also commenting via @mastermind01, the Instagram user said,” Why did APC not give him the ticket…?
Jaybee2jaybee said,” is this not how a president should look and speak! Very eloquent. Yeye people.”
Teeborloko commented, “How come this man isn’t an APC candidate.”
Koonelongonna reacted, “How come APC no give this man ticket?
@oyinfabulousity summed up Osinbajo’s representation of Nigeria in the US as “Intelligent and very articulate.”
Recall that on June 7, 2022, the former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu won the presidential primary election of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Tinubu defeated 13 other contenders to emerge as the flag bearer of the party at the Special National Convention of the party in Abuja.
Tinubu polled a total of 1,271 votes. His closet rival, Amaechi had 316 votes. And Vice President Osinbajo came third with 235 votes.
More than 2,300 delegates voted in the contest that produced Tinubu as the presidential flagbearer of the ruling party.
