Nigeria Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Friday visited the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Olalekan Balogun, at his Alarere Palace in Ibadan.
The Vice-President told Kabiyesi and his Council members that he came to pay homage to the Olubadan and sought his blessings on his desire to take over from PMB come 2023 after they might have completed the current tenure.
Both Balogun of Ibadanland and the Osi-Balogun, High Chiefs Owolabi Olakulehin and Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe respectively, who also spoke at the brief occasion acknowledged the love of the Vice-President for Ibadan and prayed for his success at the primary election and his aspiration to succeed his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari come 2023 when the current tenure expires.
The Vice President was accompanied to the monarch’s residence by the Deputy Governor of the state, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, former Senate leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North), Senators Kola Balogun (Oyo South), Chief Niyi Akintola, Chairman of Oyo APC, Mr. Isaac Omodewu, , Fatai Bihari and others.
Prof. Osinbajo thereafter met with delegates of Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) at Ibadan Civic Center in continuation of his visitation to states ahead of the primary election of his party, All Progressives Congress (APC) holding next month.
The meeting observed a minute silence in memories of late former governors of Oyo State: Lam Adesina, Abiola Ajimobi, and Adebayo Alao-Akala.
In attendance at the meeting were Senator Teslim Folarin, Chief Niyi Akintola; Senator Babafemi Ojudu, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters; and Isaac Omodewu, the Oyo State Chairman of the APC.
The Special Adviser to the Vice President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu in his address to Oyo state delegates narrated how Prof Osinbajo dealt passionately with him, and why he should be trusted as the next president.
Senator Ojudu, Senator Folarin , Chief Niyi Akintola, the APC State Chairman, Isaac Omodewu and other notable leaders of the party assured the Vice President of total support for his presidential ambition.
In his address, Prof Osibajo thanked the party men and women for their unalloyed support.
He said ” I declared my intention with all humility having served the country for seven years. I have served as acting president. Everything I have learnt during these period has prepared me to be the president. And I believe the time has come to give everything I have learnt to the country. For all our politicians and delegates, I just want to speak to our politicians.
”Every politician is a nation builder and our desire is to make our country a great nation. I am building a partnership built on trust with all politicians and ensure that they received adequate reward for all their efforts. You can be sure that all the decisions at highest level we are going to consult you and make sure we did it together.”
“During those years, Mr. President truly gave me every opportunity to know all what the government was doing, including very sensitive issues and I felt it would be the right thing to do to deploy all those experiences under President Muhammadu Buhari to the service of the country.