Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday paid President-elect Bola Tinubu compliments on his victory at the recently concluded 2023 presidential election.
Tinubu, who campaigned on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the small hours of the same day.
After a hard-fought battle, the former Lagos State governor defeated Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP) in the February 25 poll.
Before Tinubu’s emergence as the party’s candidate, Osinbajo was one of his major challengers at the June 6, 2022 APC presidential primary, a move many of the political godfather’s supporters found to be disloyal.
Osinbajo had been appointed to serve as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State under Tinubu between 1999 and 2007, paving the way for his rise to become vice president in 2015.
Nevertheless, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo spoke glowingly of his former principal, while also congratulating Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima.
“In your previous years of public service, you have demonstrated a consistent fidelity to progressive and welfarist ideals, and an ability to build bridges across several divides.
“These attributes are needed especially at this time, to reach out to disaffected sections of our society and to meet the aspirational expectations of our young people who have shown such a strong desire to impact our democratic process in a positive way.”
Earlier, while presiding over the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, Osinbajo had led federal ministers to congratulate the former governor; his wife Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady-Designate; and Shettima.
The statement quoted the Vice President as saying, “We wish him (Asiwaju) the very best as he prepares to lead the country in the next few months.”
See the full statement below:
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
OSINBAJO TO TINUBU:
YOUR ATTRIBUTES, FIDELITY TO PROGRESSIVE IDEALS NEEDED AT THIS TIME
*Through thick and thin, we must all remain focused on birthing Nigeria of our dreams, says VP
*Personally joins President-Elect, VP-Elect at Presentation of INEC’S Certificates of Return
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN has written to congratulate the winner of the 2023 Presidential Election, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to him “I warmly congratulate the flagbearer of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his victory at the 2023 Presidential Elections, and his declaration as President-Elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I also congratulate His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima on his declaration as Vice President-Elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Addressing the President-Elect, the VP stated that “in your previous years of public service, you have demonstrated a consistent fidelity to progressive and welfarist ideals, and an ability to build bridges across several divides.
“These attributes are needed especially at this time, to reach out to disaffected sections of our society and to meet the aspirational expectations of our young people who have shown such a strong desire to impact our democratic process in a positive way.
“I trust that they will not allow whatever setbacks they may have experienced to truncate their strong desire to determine the future course of our national journey.
“Through thick and thin, we must all remain focused on the objective of birthing the Nigeria of our dreams.
“I pray that Almighty God will help you to fulfil the progressive mandate of our Party, as well as your various plans to improve the security, welfare and happiness of all Nigerians.”
Earlier today while presiding over the weekly Federal Executive Council, the VP had led Federal Ministers to congratulate the former Lagos Governor, his wife Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady-Designate and the Vice President-Elect Senator Kashim Shettima.
The VP said, “we wish him (Asiwaju) the very best as he prepares to lead the country in the next few months.”
He then directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to formally convey the felicitations of the Council.
Later, the Vice President attended the formal presentation of the INEC Certificates of Return to both the President-Elect and the Vice President-Elect at the National Collation Center located at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President
Office of the Vice President
1st March 2023