Perhaps a book about his leadership and rhetoric, which would portray all of these traits during his 8-year reign should suffice, along with a signed foreword by his boss, President Buhari.
President Muhammadu Buhari will be leaving office in 3 months, and while he will be remembered for a lot of things. surely, spending 8 years as the most powerful person in the most populous black nation is enough flex to leave indelible marks on the country’s history. 8 years is enough time for many to yearn for a breath of fresh air, and a change of stewardship. This administration has touched virtually every life in Nigeria, positively and negatively. We have felt it and will continue to feel it. It has been a rollercoaster, but I digress.
However, president Buhari’s vice, the birthday boy, our starboy, professor Yemi Osinbajo will particularly be missed by many, particularly myself.
I have never been close to Professor Osinbajo physically (I hope to someday, soon), not to talk of meeting him personally. I do not need to do that to appreciate him, his impact and potentials. Moreover, I am sure several members of this government, and evidently his party’s (the APC) delegates do not agree with me about these potentials. I had really hoped that Nigerians bought in to his ideas and style, because I am sure he would have made one hell of a fine President! The emergence of his former principal, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the party’s flag-bearer and subsequent victory in the polls is evidence that the principal really wants to be ‘the principal’.
I am a student of great and controversial men. From Tinubu’s ability to scout, harness and project allies into positions of power, to El-rufai’s ability to be controversial, stubborn and lead with conviction and to Peter Obi’s humble and modest rhetoric. Even Atiku Abubakar is for me an evil genius, in spite of his failed attempts to become President in several times of asking. I am always in awe of the dynamics and intrigues that led to the rise, fall and resurrection of our past leaders since independence.
Professor Osinbajo to me is a hybrid specimen of all of the traits of a good leader. It is not enough that he projects humility despite his credentials and background. It is the poise in which he uses to portray his strong verbal communication skills to all categories of audience. It is his palpable display of empathy and grace while painting an optimistic future of Nigeria, despite its current challenges. His decisiveness is perhaps for me, his most useful and pronounced trait.
Perhaps a book about his leadership and rhetoric, which would portray all of these traits during his 8-year reign should suffice, along with a signed foreword by his boss, President Buhari.
Notwithstanding the turn of events, vice president Yemi Osinbajo will bow out as a fine public servant that will surely be missed by me and millions of other Nigerians, less the APC delegates. Do not bet on him becoming irrelevant as the months and years come. Happy 66th to his excellency, the starboy. ‘We move’!