Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo on Monday said it would a betrayal of Nigeria if he failed to contest the 2023 presidential election with his vast experience in the last seven years in office.
Osinbajo said this when he visited Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo, in his office in Akure, the state capital on Monday.
The Vice-president hailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s open mindedness in delegating to him serious tasks that had aided his experience.
Stressing that only God puts people in power, Osinbajo said it would be a betrayal of his country for him to retire with all his exposure in government.
He further commended Akeredolu for the giant strides of achievements in the state.
Osinbajo said: “It is such a special privilege to be called to serve, it is a very special privilege to serve either as exco, house of assembly, even as NWC member.
“I am sure that everybody knows that I have formally declared my intention to run as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I did so on Monday, April 11, 2022 and I did so because, first of all there is nobody that can bear anything God does not decide that he would be, only God can make a person president, vice president, governor, anything whatsoever.
“So, I believe the hand of God must be on anything we are doing, but I declared my intention based on first, the fact that I have served, again by the sheer grace of God, I have served for seven years and some months.
“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 capacity, 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.
“I think it will be a betrayal to our country, to our nation; this is a nation that many people died for, people died for this country, if I with all that have been given to me by the grace of God, retire quietly either to Lagos or Ikene and go and be writing my memoirs.
“It will be great injustice to our country, that is why I throw my hat in the ring and ensure I make the best case for the position of President of Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the Vice President said.
In his remarks, Governor Akeredolu appreciated Osinbajo for the visit, noting that that the delegates from Ondo State love and respect the Vice President.
