‘In God’s name, you will be President of Nigeria,’ Olubadan prays for Osinbajo

Olubadan of Ibadan, His Imperial Majesty, Lekan Balogun Ali-Iwo Okunmade II, said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will succeed in his bid to be Nigeria’s president.

This was disclosed in a statement by Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Office of the Vice President, on Friday.

Osinbajo had paid a courtesy visit to the monarch to intimate him of his decision to run for the nation’s number office.

He was also in Ibadan to meet with leaders of delegates of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State for their support ahead of the party’s presidential primaries scheduled for May 30 and 31.

At the Olubadan’s palace, Osinbajo, who described the monarch as a great gift to Ibadan people, said he decided to run for the office of the president because the country needs leaders ready to serve with capacity and knowledge which he possesses.

“As the Olubadan, Your Royal Majesty, you are a great gift to the people of Ibadan and also to us as a nation. I pray that your years will be very long and that all the people of this great city, kingdom will feel the impact, and that they will all know that you are someone who cares about them,” he said.

“As you know, on April 11, 2022, I declared my intention to run for the presidency of our great land under the flag of our party, the great party, the All Progressives Congress. I did so while taking into account the fact that our country needs all of those who are willing to serve it to the best of their capacity and knowledge.

“With great humility and sincerity, I come to your majesty, that after serving about seven years as Vice President, and also as acting, under our President, President Muhammadu Buhari, who truly gave me every opportunity; he opened up doors in a way that most deputies may not have experienced, and entrusting a lot to my care, including very sensitive positions.

“After all of that, I felt that it would be the right thing to do, to make that experience available to the people of our country. By the grace of God and the will of the people, if I am voted in as the President come 2023, I believe that there is so much to do. The desire of our hearts is that our country will be much greater and will be able to attain all of the great potentials of our people.

“You can be sure that wherever I am and in whatever situation I am, I hold you in the highest esteem, I will always continuously support whatever it is that you want to do, either for yourself or the great people of Ibadan.”

Responding, the Olubadan described the Vice President as “a wonderful human being, a wonderful person.”

“Hopefully, in God’s name, you will be President of Nigeria, may Allah grant you success on what you have in mind, may Allah support you. I can spend the next two hours just praying for you,” the Olubadan said.

The vice president later interacted with APC party leaders and delegates in Oyo State where he told them his plans for the country.

Among those who spoke at the event were Senator Teslim Folarin, Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, Chief, Dr. Jacob Tilley-Gyado and the APC Chairman in Oyo State, Hon. Isaac Ajiboye Omodewu who all expressed support for the Vice President’s aspiration.

“When it comes to the candidacy of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, there are no factions at all,” Akintola said.