BY VICTOR BUORO – Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in Jigawa State have expressed confidence in a better and progressive Nigeria emerging after 2023 general elections.
Consequently, issues of agriculture, youth empowerment, education, and technology will take the front burner when the Vice President receives endorsement to lead the country after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure expires on May 28, 2023.
In what the Vice President described as “very fruitful conversations” with APC stakeholders and delegates in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, his key message captured the need to base the 2023 elections’ decisions on what serves the overall best interest of Nigeria, its destiny and future as a nation.
According to him, “We should make a decision based on the future of our children… We can make progress; we can move on. All I ask you to do is what is in the best interest of Nigeria; vote in the interest of our children.”
Promoting his Town Hall style interaction with delegates in a session that featured questions and answers, Vice President Osinbajo restated that the training and experience in governance serving under President Buhari would position him to give Nigeria effective and responsible leadership if given the APC ticket and elected on the ruling party’s platform.
“As Vice President, the President has given me an opportunity that I do not think any other Vice President has been given”, he said
In a brief media chat after the interactive session, Vice President Osinbajo expressed happiness with the engagement saying; “Obviously, all the issues that we discussed are issues that concern the country very significantly. We talked about agriculture, we talked about youth empowerment, education, technology and a wide variety of issues.
“I think it was extremely fruitful, and at least we all understand where we are coming from and where we ought to be in the few years ahead. All of us are very happy that we were able to have this engagement.”
Among delegates and stakeholders at the session were members of the State House of Assembly, Local Government officials, grassroot leaders and women leaders.
Many of them harped on the successes of the Social Investment Programmes (SIP), especially the National Homegrown School Feeding programme, recalling that it offered first time jobs for several women.
Commending his contributions to the programme’s success, the stakeholders generally praised other achievements of the Buhari administration, such as efforts at making fertilizer available and affordable, a benefit much enjoyed by the people of Jigawa State.
The interactions also highlighted the Vice President’s reputation as “a man of proven integrity and fear of God,” as well as his “excellent track record, loyalty and support for Mr President.”
On the whole, several delegates wished that when elected President, Prof Osinbajo should work on expanding the SIP; ensuring youth and women engagements in government while providing Federal support to Jigawa State agrarian economy.
On arrival in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, Vice President was received by APC Chieftains, Senior government officials led by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abdulkadir Fanini Adamu, representing Governor Badaru Abubakar who was out of town at the time and a crowd of party supporters at the airport and along the streets.
