2023: Osinbajo possesses uncommon qualities to succeed Buhari, says Kawu

A member of the House of Representatives from Tarauni Federal Constituency of Kano State, Hafizu kawu, has described the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as the ‘natural successor’ of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Besides, the federal lawmaker declared that Osinbajo remains a credible factor with the best leadership quality among other candidates nursing similar ambition.

Addressing journalists yesterday in Kano, Hawu explained that Nigeria needs a leader whose intellectual capacity transverse all facet of human development which Osinbajo depict.

While stressing that although the vice president has not openly declared interest to join the presidential race, he said Osinbajo has, on several occasions, proved competence and demonstrated capacity to manage Nigeria’s diverse space.

The lawmaker, who was formerly a special assistant to the Vice President, emphasised that Osinbajo is loyal to his principal, even when he was handed a symbol of authority while the president was traveling out of the country.

Stating reasons why Nigerians should consider the vice president as ‘natural successor’ of the president, Kawu cited the potentials, capabilities, qualities, and experiences he exhibited in the last seven years.

He said: “Looking at the giant projects initiated by this government, the best person that will succeed and complete these projects is Yemi Osinbajo, because part of the problems we are facing in the country is lack of continuity.

Each government comes with its projects and if another one takes over it abandons the previous projects if there has been continuity, we would have achieved so much by now in this country.

“Let me give you an example. This administration has completed so many projects left behind by the previous administration like the rail line from Abuja to Kaduna, the second Niger bridge, Benin-Ore road and so many of them that’s why I think he is the best to succeed to complete the giant projects initiated by this government.

“Although he has not declared intention he’s contesting for president, but I and others we are calling on him to come out and contest so that he can lead Nigeria to the promised land and we think he will not fail us by not running for the office of the president as we are praying and hoping he will contest,” Kawu noted.

Responding to the possibility of a clash of interest between the vice president and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmad Bola Tinubu, who is nursing similar interest, Kawu revealed that since Tinubu has not declared he’s running for the presidency, the “law of natural justice” demands Osinbajo succeed his principal.

“I worked as his aid between 2015-2019 before I moved to the house of Reps, I know him personally, I know his capacities so as I said, following the laws of natural justice, He should be the person to succeed Muhammadu Buhari.

“Moreover, you can say he has been a president, and an acting president is like a president so you have seen him, you have seen what he has done, he’s a professor of law, a man of God, and a person that cares so much for the youths of this country.

“When worked under his office, most of us were youths within the ages of 40, I think the and the oldest about 60years, he believes so much in Nigeria, so much in the youth of Nigeria and like I said, look at his pedigree, look at his leadership qualities, he’s a leader that leads by example”.

On whether he would jettison Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s presidential candidate if the governor opted for another candidate aside Osinbajo, Kawu said ” I have not seen anywhere my governor (Ganduje) openly declare support for any candidate but I can assure you as loyal party members we all have our interests but one thing that unites us all is the party’s interest and Nigeria’s interest.

“When the time comes, we will be united in deciding the best way to go about it. But for those of us who are familiar with Osinbajo, we feel he is the best and we are calling on him to come out and contest because we know his capacities and capabilities, bear in mind that Tinubu has not come out to declare he will contest, so all that you are hearing a part of political permutation.

“But when the time comes, if my governor comes out to show his support to any candidate, he’s our leader in state and until we get to that bridge, they will know how to cross it,’ he stressed.