Nigerian Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has said it will be a “betrayal” to the people of the country if he doesn’t contest the presidency in the 2023 general election.
Osinbajo spoke on Monday when he visited Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo State, and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The vice-president said aside from his current position, having served as acting president for over seven years has also given him the needed experience to lead Nigeria.
“Opportunity comes once in a while. It is also a privilege to serve. Our country needs service that will bring the country out of the woods,” NAN quoted him as saying.
NEWS: I’ve forgiven those behind my 11-year court trial, says ex-Gov Gbenga Daniel
“Nobody can be anything without the endorsement of God. I declared my intention based on the fact that I have served for over seven months as acting president. I was given very serious responsibilities as an acting president.
“President Muhammadu Buhari, just out of his open-mindedness and his own generosity, ensured that I was given very serious responsibilities as vice-president and I also acted as president.
“In those capacities, I got to know so many things that most people will never come across — even people in government will never come across — and I gained a lot of experience on that account.
“Many times, the president, when he was away, said pointedly to me that ‘look, I don’t want to feter your discretion in any way; as acting president, you are president; just make sure you are fair and just; don’t refer anything to me; don’t ask me any questions; just do whatever you need to do’.
“Now, the opportunity has come. With the experience that I have, the connection and contacts that I have both locally and internationally, it will be a betrayal to the country not to accept to serve the country.
“Many people are dying for the country every day. If with all that has been given to me by the grace of God — all the experience — I now retire to Lagos or Ikenne to go and write my memoir, it would be a great injustice to this country.
“It will be great injustice to our country, that is why I have thrown my hat in the ring to ensure I make the best case for the position of president of Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Osinbajo had recently announced his intention to run for president and since then, the vice-president has been traversing the country to seek support for his presidential ambition.
