Politics
Political office not about prestige – Osinbajo
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says holding political office is more of an opportunity to serve and impact on lives of millions of people than the prestige that comes with the position.
His spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande, quoted the vice-president as making the assertion at the unveiling of a book titled “Deputising and Governance in Nigeria’’.
The book was authored by the governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje.
The book launch was part of the programme at a workshop where the roles of a deputy to an elected public official, especially vice- presidents and deputy governors came under public searchlight.
The workshop featured reminiscences by former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was deputy to deceased President Umaru Yar’Adua, Osinbajo, the author himself and his deputy, Alhaji Nasir Gawuna.
“A thought that runs through the book is that in spite of the put-downs of the office, being political number two is important.
“This is because political office is about the lives of millions of people and not just about the prestige of office.
“In our constitutional democracy, the effectiveness of the number two citizen, the vice-president, depends a great deal on the trust reposed in him by the president.
“That is a function of loyalty and it goes both ways as Ganduje points out in his book,’’ Osinbajo said.
The vice-president highlighted the importance of dedication, loyalty and service in political office on governance.
He described the relationship between him and his boss – President Muhammadu Buhari, as ideal and exemplary.
“I am more fortunate than others in my relationship with my principal, the president who genuinely believes in the role of the vice-president.
“At a time that he was embarking on medical leave, there were a few things that were outstanding to send to him.
“All he said was: “I don’t want you to send me anything, it is your job now, just make sure you do a good job,’ ’’ Osinbajo recalled.
Osinbajo said that as former President Jonathan said of his relationship with late Gov. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa, Buhari did not expect him (Osinbajo) to call him when he was away.
“He expects that I know what to do and should do it,’’ he noted.
The vice-president drew an analogy of the spare tyre widely used to describe the role of the deputy to the president.
He explained that a better description would be that of the relationship between a pilot and his deputy in an aircraft.
“Imagine a commercial flight with people, including you on a plane, there is the captain, and then there is his deputy.
“The captain flies the plane, but no human being can be completely focused for several hours.
“So, sometimes he gets up and goes to the bathroom while the flight is on; his deputy had better be a good pilot, otherwise lives are at risk.
“Can you imagine a situation where the captain leaves the cockpit briefly and you hear an announcement from the cockpit: “ladies and gentlemen, I am the deputy to the captain; the captain is in the restroom, and I am only a spare tyre and I am not sure what to do now?”
“If you are in that plane you will ask God for forgiveness for expecting that a deputy or assistant plays no role,’’ he said.
Osinbajo observed that the book was full of wisdom and wit from a practical politician and erudite social scientist, Alhaji Ganduje.
“Ganduje is worth studying not because he has always succeeded politically, but because he failed many times, yet he always knew how to lose and not get lost.
“This book is not about Ganduje and his achievements, it is more of a textbook on governance and politics.
“And we have heard this most eloquently from Prof. Attahiru Jega, the book reviewer today; it contains important nuggets on those two subjects,’’ Osinbajo said.
The vice-president recommended the book to everyone, not just politicians, but anyone who had any kind of interest in good governance.
Dignitaries at the event included the APC vice-presidential candidate, Sen. Kashim Shettima, who represented the party’s presidential candidate, Sen. BolaTinubu, Govs. Babagana Zulum (Borno), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe) and Abdulrahman Abdulrazak (Kwara).
“… as he pays thank You visit to constituents for call on him to re-contest for 3rd term, organizes reception for his immediate electoral ward, reveals plans to flag off campaign Soon… “
The Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, has today organised a warm reception for the people of his immediate electoral ward Umaisha in Umaisha/ Ugya State Constituency to appreciate them for the call on him to re-contest for the third term which he has officially accepted.
The Speaker who made the call while speaking in an event in his honour today in Umaisha, called on his constituents and the State at large to support the Presidential candidate of APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Gov. Abdullahi Sule and himself as well as APC party to succeed in 2023 general election.
He said that the APC government at both the State and Federal levels have performed well in touching on the lives of the people, hence the need of his call in that direction.
” I am here to say thank you for always supporting me to succeed and to officially answer your call to recontest for third term to represent you in the state legislature beyond 2023,
” peace is the foundation of every development and even the enemy of our Governor Abdullahi Sule will give him credit in the area of security not to talk of other achievements,
” Our presidential Flagg bearer Bola Tinubu is the best man for the job and these are the people we are going to vote come 2023.
” You are aware of what I have done and still doing in touching on your lives positively and I believe this is why you asked me to re-contest and I have accepted your calls and together we shall swim Insha Allah” He said.
” As I used to say, Toto LGA is a home of APC and will remain the home of APC beyond 2023.
” And By God’s grace, I will win, Gov. Sule and Bola Tinubu will win in 2023.
Balarabe Abdullahi urged the people of Umaisha and other people of the constituency to pray and support him, Gov.Sule and Bola Tinubu, the Presidential candidate of APC to succeed in 2023 in order to enjoy more dividends of democracy.
The State Number Three Citizen appreciated Gov. Sule for his security efforts that has brought peace in Toto LG and other parts of the State as well as his developmental strides in almost all sectors of the economy.
He assured the Governor of his readiness to mobilise support to all nooks and crannies of Toto LG and other parts of the State to enable him and other APC candidates succeed beyond 2023.
Besides, the Speaker has disclosed that he would soon flag off his campaign in the area.
” Very soon , I will sit with my campaign team to decide when we will flag off my campaign where I will invite all the people of my six electoral wards, from my LG, my political associates and other personalities to witness the flag off” he added.
On their parts, Hon Yusuf Musa Omaki, a former Lawmaker and Commissioner who is the State Coordinator Tinubu/ Shatima Campaign Organization and son of the soil, Mr Isaiah Agah, the APC Zonal Chairman, Nasarawa West, Hon Abdullahi Aliyu Tasha,Chairman Toto LG all underscored the positive representation and leadership qualities of the Speaker and drummed support for him, Gov. Sule and Tinubu to succeed in 2023.
The trio said that the people of the State and Nigerians would benefit more, if the vote APC at all levels in the country.
Also speaking, Mr Mohammed Musa Galadima, APC Youth Leadee of Umaisha ward, Hajiya Kumajo Yusuf, APC Women Leader of Umaisha ward, Ali Maigoro, APC Chieftain as well as two PDP strong supporters Mr Abdullahi Sheikh and Mr Eheda Usman, who recently defected to APC lauded the leadership qualities of the Speaker.
They assured of their readiness to mobilise support for the Speaker, Gov. Sule and Tinubu to succeed in 2023.
It was reported that the well attended brief reception for Umaisha Electoral Ward demonstrated that the Speaker Nasarawa State House of Assembly Alh Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi is with his people and the people are with him and a clear road for his victory and that of his party in coming elections.
Alhaji Yusuf Idris, the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara said there was no President like Buhari in the history of Nigeria.
idris told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday,” the president has really performed creditably in the last seven years.
“However, more publicity needs to be given to the myriad programmes and policies, as well as the achievements of the Buhari-led Federal Government.”
Idris said that in the history of the Nigerian presidency, it is only Buhari that initiated a social investments programme that has various components.
He added that these components had tangibly touched the lives of the common man across the country.
He listed these components to include: N-Power, Conditional Cash. Transfer, TraderMoni and Senior Citizens’ programe, among others.
“If you check you will find out that a lot of people had benefitted, but more public awareness is needed.
“For instance, in Zamfara, more than 200,000 people have benefited from these programmes in the last seven years.
“This feat is being replicated across the country and already, trillions of naira had been sunk into these invaluable programmes.
“People are being credited directly from the banks including some of them criticising the government.
*The president has good plans for the country,but more needs to be done in terms of Implementation and publicity,”Idris said.
On economic development, the APC top official said that Buhari has empowered many Nigerian farmers through the Anchor Borrower’s Programme (ABP), saying, “this is glaring not hidden.”
According to Idris, the farmers were given improved seeds and farm implements, among other items, saying, “the president has done a wonderful job.
“That is why the country is not suffering from the much expected hunger occasioned by the effects of COVID-19 and other disturbing global economic downturns.
“Buhari has also done a lot in the anti corruption fight and there are sustained efforts to combat the various security challenges facing the country.”
Alhaji Yusuf Idris, Publicity Secretary of the APC Zamfara chapter says the 2023 governorship election in the state will be a walk over.
“We will only go and cast our votes for APC candidates at all levels just because of formalities,” Idris told the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.
According to him, the issue of the second mandate for Gov. Bello Matawalle had already been signed and sealed by the people of the state.
idris said:” We have planned all our strategies to retain power in the state as we are much happy with the way the Governor is leading the state.
“The people of the state are happy with his various plausible programmes and polices of development especially in the areas of youth empowerment, health, education and social investments, among others.
“I think, this will give us an upper hand to the electorate and we are optimistic we are going to dear any political party in 2023.”
Idris added that APC had much on the ground at all levels in the state, insisting that all the major political gladiators since the return of democracy are in the party.
“We are more united, we are formidable, we are under one umbrella and we don’t have any issue of intra-party wranglings.
“So, we are ahead of the plan and we are sure by the special grace o God, we are going to win the elections at all levels.
“This is ranging from the presidency and we are going to give him nothing less than one million votes.
“We are much ready for the forthcoming polls as we have set up all the needed committees and a governorship campaign council which will be unveiled soon,”he said.
Idris said that the people of the state had tremendous confidence in the governor, adding, “if a governor performs wonderfully, the electorate will support him.
“Our people in the state are happy with the way and manner he is relentlessly making efforts to secure the state.
“He recently weighed about three options and shut down three local governments in line with the advice of the state security council to ensure the security of lives and properties of the citizens.
“The situation has really improved within the last two weeks and we have not heard about any kidnapping, killing or banditry.”
Idris said that the governor was making frantic efforts to restore the lost peace and security in the state, saying, “the people are having much confidence in him.”
The APC spokesperson also said that Matawalle has introduced various social investments programmes that were touching the lives of the common man.
“That is why the electorate are not seeing any political party or candidate apart from APC and its flag bearers.
“Members of the other political parties are also daily defecting to APC including executives and candidates,”Idris said.
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