Hafizu Kawu, a lawmaker representing Tarauni federal constituency in Kano, says Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is a “natural successor” of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 because he is “a man of God.”

“His foresight in so many areas will be useful for Nigeria. He is loyal, detribalised, and a man of God who I think is (a) natural successor of President Muhammadu Buhari,” said Mr Kawu during a press conference on Monday in Kano.

Mr Osinbajo is a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and is considered a stooge of APC national leader Bola Tinubu, who is also interested in the presidency.

The federal lawmaker, who urged Mr Osinbajo to contest the 2023 presidential election, asserted that the move would consolidate the achievements of Mr Buhari’s regime.

“Osinbajo is a saleable candidate for the party whose antecedents, experience, honesty, capacity and capability speak volumes,” explained the lawmaker. “As a close ally and former aide of the vice president, I chose to make this briefing without his consent. Yet I am doing it due to Osinbajo’s impressive vision for the country.”

Further underscoring the vice president as a bona fide presidential candidate, Mr Kawu disclosed that he worked with “him from 2015 to 2019. I know him personally, and I also know his capabilities and potentials.”

In addition, he mentioned that Mr Osinbajo, if given the mandate to rule Nigeria, would ensure, among other things, that the rule of law is entrenched across the country due to his background as a lawyer.

With Messrs Osinbajo and Buhari at the helm of Nigeria’s affairs, many Nigerians have accused the regime of poor human rights records.

Mr Kawu, who commended the president for initiating developmental projects in Nigeria, said if, given the mandate, Mr Osinbajo will complete all ongoing projects and initiate new ones.

The lawmaker also praised Mr Buhari’s handling regime of the country’s worsening security.

“This administration scores very high in its fight against the insurgents, reclaiming our territories and reducing bombings nationwide. It has redeemed the hope of Nigerians,” added the lawmaker.

(NAN)