Like Buhari, I’ll partner governors as president: Osinbajo

Mr Osinbajo highlighted the partnership between the presidency and the 36 state governors despite party differences.

News Agency of Nigeria • May 9, 2022

Buhari, Osinbajo and some Nigerian governors used to illustrate the story

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says he would apply the partnership model in governance if he’s elected Nigeria’s president.

“And one of the very important things for me is what I would describe as a partnership,” the vice president’s spokesperson, Laolu Akande, quoted him as saying.

Mr Osinbajo spoke at a dinner with speakers and deputy speakers of several state Houses of Assembly on Sunday at his official residence in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Mr Osinbajo highlighted the partnership between the presidency and the 36 state governors despite party differences.

He said such a relationship led to President Muhammadu Buhari approving a bailout to states to pay workers’ salaries, budget support facilities, and Paris Debt refunds, among other packages from the federal government to the states.

Mr Osinbajo recalled his tour of the Niger Delta in 2017 on behalf of the president, which birthed the administration’s Niger Delta New Vision and restored peace and stability, among other significant development gains in the region.

“People want to be able to express their views, and they want to be heard/helped, and we must create the time to hear them to understand their views.

“Whatever policy that is, engagement is always the best approach, I think that has succeeded in so many instances. I am confident that the partnership model is one that will always work,” he said.

Mr Osinbajo said that the partnership model also helped the Buhari regime in the cordial working relationships with all the state governors under the auspices of the National Economic Council (NEC).

He said that consultation was critical in governance and essential for national development, especially in a country as diverse and complex as Nigeria.

On why he wants to be president, Mr Osinbajo described himself as “well trained and most prepared” of all the aspirants wanting to take over from Mr Buhari.

In their remarks, the speakers and deputy speakers commended the vice president’s efforts in developing the country, with several of them also endorsing him for president.

(NAN)

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