The Emir of Kastina, Abdulmuminin Usman, has assured Vice President Yemi Osinbajo of his support to become the 2023 presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year’s general election.

“Take it from me, we are behind you; we will try as much as possible; someone with experience is a better person than someone who is very new to the administration; so you are on board already,” Mr Usman said.

The traditional ruler expressed this view while receiving the vice president who was on a courtesy call to his palace on Saturday in Kastina, and in furtherance of his consultations with APC stakeholders ahead of the party primaries.

However, the traditional ruler offered some advice, adding that for the vice president to succeed, “You need some touches; the touches you need are consultations; we are the grassroots; you consult the traditional institution; you go with them.

“I really pray with all my heart that you succeed; that you carry on where your predecessor stopped and Allah will help you.

“I know you are a quiet man; a pastor, you know God; you know how to go with Him; we will pray for you Insha Allah but in your mind take it; this is a work that must be done,” Mr Usman added.

Earlier in his remark, Mr Osinbajo, who was accompanied by Governor Aminu Masari, said that having served under Buhari for seven years, and sometimes, as the Acting President, he had garnered the experience needed to govern a complex nation such as Nigeria.

“I put myself forward for the reason that I have served under his tutelage for the past seven years and on some occasions, I have also acted as president.

“During that period, the president has exposed me to all that there is to know about governing a complex and diverse country such as ours.

“I want to say that I have learnt; there is considerable experience; and the key issues that concern our country today, issues of security, issues of the economy are issues that I believe we can do very well and I am in a position to do quite a lot on,“  he said.

The vice president said he knows exactly what the problems of Nigeria are and will not have to learn anything going by the experience and knowledge he has acquired.

(NAN)