• Explains why he says ‘Osinbajo as a man to follow’
• Says VP is God-fearing, resilient, filled with the Spirit of God, hardworking, honest, amiable and humble
By Oluwafemi Popoola
The Spokesman to the Nigerian Vice President, Mr Laolu Akande, on Monday, 8th of March, showered praises on his principal, the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, on the occasion of his 65th birthday anniversary, describing him as God-fearing, resilient, filled with the Spirit of God, directed by the Hand of God, hardworking, honest, amiable and clearly, a humble person.”
Speaking in a less than three-minute video which has since gone viral on social media, Akande, a onetime world-beating journalist with a series of awards to his credit, former title editor at the Nigerian Tribune, and the first Nigerian journalist to interview a sitting US President, spoke glowingly of the Vice President, noting that Osinbajo’s leadership was needed at this time to pursue a “Nigerian agenda.”
He lauded the personality of his boss as someone who understands his role as the country’s No 2 man, saying: “Some of us that have worked with him in last six years have come to the firm conclusion that not only does he understand his role as the Vice President, he is committed to delivering on the agenda of this government of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
“I have seen, watching him from very close quarters, that unusual commitment to planning to purpose and uncommon demonstration of loyalty even in tough and at times difficult circumstances, that is why I said that he is a man to follow.”
Describing the Vice President as both a good leader and a good follower, Akande averred that “a great leader has to, first of all, be a good follower and so, having seen closely the elements that shaped and continue to shape the life of the Vice President, I have no doubt in my mind that it is this kind of leadership that is needed at a time like this in this country.
Also, the VP’s Spokesperson reassuring Nigerian of the government’s good intention and commitment to nation-building, said: “The Federal Government has muted its plans to push the Nigerian agenda, the agenda that is inspired by a common purpose to reveal and to bring about the greatness of this country.
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Akande said: “I have seen the Vice President working closely with his principal, the President of this country, both of whom are equally committed to that purpose and seeing them working together, pushing this agenda of a progressive country has become a thing of inspiration to many of us, that is why I said regarding him, he is indeed a man to follow.”
Recall that earlier on in celebrating the Vice President’s birthday, several prominent personalities and many Nigerians across the country had taken to the social media to celebrate the VP on his big day with a great potpourri of best wishes and torrents of congratulatory messages poured on the Vice President, while many others solicited his leadership ahead of the 2023 presidential race.
