RE: Professor Yemi Osinbajo: The President We Should Have Had

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

Today, 9th March, 2015, Victoria Ohaeri wrote an article with the above title (Professor Yemi Osinbajo: The President We Should Have Had ) and for the first time, I feel the need to make a direct response to her query. In the article posted on her blog, she raised some salient points and made some observations. Also, she narrated her encounter with Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Vice presidential candidate of All progressive Congress (APC) and express her admiration of his character. In her words, ‘’ He (Osinbajo) talked a lot less, speaking only when necessary and with wisdom, depth and tact. Beyond his professorial accomplishments, he also has very broad international experience in global and regional roles, and across multiple disciplines’’ While commending the APC Vice President, she confessed that the professor of law is indeed competent and capable, but wonder why such a fine gentle man would be made a second fiddle if the change mantra being touted by the opposition party is anything to be taken seriously. According to her, his arrival on the political scene not too long ago was the game changer for the All Progressive Congress (APC). ‘’I have been keenly following his campaign, especially his smart engagement with private citizens, professionals, interest groups and different stakeholders. In his usual gentle and amiable manner, he has demonstrated exceptional capabilities to connect effectively with every strata of the society –the rich, the poor, passengers in the bus, shoppers at the mall, market women and the like – in a way that is so refreshingly empowering.’’ Having established her believe in the capability of the professor, she wrote ‘’The begging question is why a party loudly trumpeting the “change” mantra did not consider putting an imposing figure with towering moral and professional credentials like Professor Osinbajo at the front seat? If the current election is not about pacifying interests and bitter agitations for political power, why would a man of Osinbajo’s pedigree and standing be considered only fit to play second fiddle to a man far less endowed? If changing the character and quality of Nigerian leadership is the real goal of the “change” movement, why the hesitation to put square pegs in square holes? That this question has not been answered is the reason why pessimism and skepticism will continue to assail latter-day promises of political salvation. Before making my position on the subject, it is important to agree with her that indeed, professor Osinbajo is more than capable to lead this nation. I have no doubt what soever that if such a man is put in the front seat, certainly, that would greatly benefit the nation, particularly the young generation. However, I wish to remind Victoria that we are in a democratic setting. Democracy as we all know is not the government of the best, by the best and for the best. Rather, it is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. Any political party that seek to win an election, particularly, a presidential election must understand what is called balancing of interest. And to perform well in government to achieve the desired result, it must have competent hands. For me, Professor Osinbajo is one of those competent hands we must all support. Again, we must understand that democracy is not about having competent hands without the people, but rather, having the people along with the competent hands. Many competent hands without the people have contested this position and didn’t make any difference in the past. We can’t forget Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Prof Pat Utomi and many others so soon. While we must lay emphasis on competence of our candidates, we must not forget the key component of democracy, which is the people. In all honesty, do you believe if Prof. Osinbajo is the presidential candidate, do you believe APC stand a chance to win this coming election? Considering the ethnic, religious and tribal divide this present government have promoted among Nigerians in recent time, do you truly believe he stand a chance at this time? I doubt. For me, Osinbajo and Buhari represents the two key demand of Nigerians. People and Competence. While Buhari represent the former, Osinbajo represent the later. People always come first before competence in democracy. Also, It should be noted that in democracy, those who stand at the front seat are those who put themselves forward in a competition for the front position. Considering the quality of Osinbajo as narrated by Victoria, one would expect that when she saw him at the ministry of justice, he should have been the governor rather than a commissioner, but if she can appreciate him as a commissioner rather than a governor at that time, seeing him as a Vice president should even make her be more willing to help him reach the much desired position, not condemning the party that offered him such an opportunity. For the records, the entire nation were aware when the All Progressive Congress (APC) said its front seat position need to be occupied. The party specifically asked all those interested in the front seat to signify interest by acquiring the interest form. Many did, but Professor Osinbajo didn’t. Former Vice president, Atiku Abubakar showed interest, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha showed interest, Chairman of Leadership Newspaper, Mr. Nda showed interest, Kano State Governor, Alhaji Musa Kwankwaso and many others showed interest, but Professor osinbajo didn’t. In democracy, it is only those who showed interest to occupy the front seat that stand a chance of getting there. Though today, Victoria express admiration for Osinbajo, but when the front seat position was vacant, I never remember anytime she mentioned his name as a potential candidate. If she truly believe he deserve to be the president now, it is expected that his name should have been mentioned when the position was vacant, not now that it is occupied. Also, I didn’t remember if she mentioned his name for a potential Vice presidential candidate. Infact, when he was mentioned as a potential candidate, many waved him aside, saying if such a man is considered for that position, APC is finished. For me, we must first appreciate the APC for considering such a man even when many thought it was a suicide. As we all know, the primary election was conducted in the open, and a winner clearly emerge. All contestant accepted the outcome. In view of this, I put it to you that, it is wrong and not a democratic statement to say that, a candidate was put at the front seat, as if that candidate was single handedly picked by someone. This is a candidate who polled over 60% of the total vote in an open primary election. By saying professor osinbajo should be put at the front ahead of a candidate who won a free and fair primary election, does that mean we should encourage imposition of candidate simple because we believe they are better? we must imbibe the democratic culture. Also, it is on record that the presidential candidate, general Muhammadu Buhari has a record. This man has a record of not relegating his deputy to the corner. By this, it is clear that what ever quality professor osinbajo have, he can freely utilize it if elected come March 28, 2015. During General Buhari’s regime as a military ruler in the 80’s, his vice, Tunde Idiagbon wielded an unprecedented power to an extent that their regime was named, Buhari/Idiagbon regime. This clearly tells us that, Buhari is not a man that would try to deny his vice an opportunity to make adequate use of his skills to the betterment of the nation. The kind of power Idiagbon wielded then made some people believe he was the one running the country and Buhari just a figure head. This is the level of freedom he has to operate. For me, the argument shouldn’t be about who is better between the president and the vice, provided both are able to make adequate use of their capabilities to contribute to the nation building, we should commend a party that offer such a fine gentle man an opportunity to serve under its platform. While I agree that the nation should always strive to put the best men forward, we must understand that best man who want to be put forward must first pass through the democratic process of winning the people, first in a primary election, then at the general election. Until the best men have the quality to win the people to their side, it would be difficult to put them in the front seat in a democracy. In conclusion, let me also adopt Victoria’s conclusion that, it doesn’t matter if Professor Osinbajo wins the 2015 vice-presidential election or not; what counts is that a new breed of leadership has emerged and the hope for a better Nigeria beckons. He does not only inspire real change and hope to the future generation, but he is also a reminder that there is still work to be done. For those of us totally UNINSPIRED by the quality of the leading contenders and democratic fireworks underlying the 2015 elections, we remain hopeful that the fresh-mint candidature which Professor Osinbajo represents will provide the much-needed springboard to engender a new brand of Nigerian politics anchored on competence, track records, discipline and meritocracy. Finally, the best way to support the best men is to support them from back sit to get to the front. If truly we want the best men to lead us in the future, we must support the best men anywhere they are today, so that they can acquire the required strength to stand a greater chance of being exactly where we want them to be. We must do our best for the best men when they are in the back sit, so as to get them to the front sit. Abdulrazaq O Hamzat (Mr.Rights)