The vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has said that consultation with the people is critical in governance and important for national development, especially in a country as diverse and complex as Nigeria.
Media aide to the vice president, Mr. Laolu Akande said in statement that Osinbajo made the declaration at his official residence at the Presidential Villa yesterday during a dinner with speakers and deputy speakers of some state houses of assembly.
“Government by partnership is so important. That is the kind of relationship that I think makes governance easier. The only way to make a complex country like this work is by consultations. There is no other way,” he said.
The vice president also stated that he would apply the partnership model in governance if he was nominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its presidential flag bearer, and eventually emerge as president.
He restated the value of his experience to lead Nigeria as president in 2023.
“In terms of training on the job, I think I am quite well trained. So, I believe very strongly that, although there are other contestants who are also very capable and competent, I believe that just in terms of readiness, I think that if there is anyone who is prepared for that, I am certainly that person.
“So, if by the grace of God, I am nominated by the party and the electorate, I think that God helping us, we will be able to do much in office. And one of the very important things for me is what I would describe as a partnership.”
He recalled his tour of the Niger Delta in 2017, on behalf of the president, which birthed the administration’s Niger Delta New Vision, and restored peace and stability, among other significant development gains in the region.
“People want to be engaged, they want to be spoken to, they want to hear what government is doing, they want you to hear what their opinions are.
“That engagement taught me something very crucial, the most important thing of all in this country, is for us to be able to sit down and talk on any issue. People want to be able to express their views, and they want to be heard/helped, and we must create the time to hear them and understand their views.
“Whatever policy that is, engagement is always the best approach, I think that has succeeded in so many instances. I am confident that the partnership model is one that will always work,” he stated.
Osinbajo also highlighted the partnership relationship between the presidency and the 36 state governors despite party differences, and how it led to President Muhammadu Buhari approving bailout to States to pay workers’ salaries, budget support facilities, Paris debt refunds among other packages from the in the past years.
“The special packages that we put together for the states were on the basis of a partnership, we all worked together to ensure that there is success all round. I think that the governors would testify that that partnership model is a model that has worked,” Osinbajo said.
In their remarks, the visitors commended the vice president for his efforts in the general development of the country.
Pledging his support for Osinbajo, speaker of the Niger State house of assembly, Mr. Abdullahi Wuse, noted that the vice president has the best capacity to lead from 2023.
“Few people have the intellectual capacity, the capabilities that you are exhibiting as the vice president of this country. We look forward to a situation where you will be the president. I believe that you will do more if given the opportunity to be president of this country,” he said.
Similarly, the speaker, Ogun State house of assembly, Mr. Olakunle Oluomo, noted that Nigerians everywhere appreciate the vice president who he said has shown total capacity in leadership.
According to him, the country will experience transformation if the VP is elected president in 2023.
“His coming will accelerate a lot of development in this country; also he will hit the ground running,” he added.
Also speaking, Katsina State house of assembly speaker, Mr. Tasiu Musa-Maigari, commended the vice president’s “good qualities of leadership, honesty, hard work and loyalty.”
