A former Governor of Ogun, Gbenga Daniel, says Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has a clear understanding of Nigeria’s challenges amid complaints by many Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari is incapable of resolving the crises.

The country’s economy has dipped, food prices skyrocketed, and insecurity is widespread.

There have also been calls for the president’s resignation or impeachment.

Mr Daniel, who seemed more excited with Mr Osinbajo than Mr Buhari after a private meeting with the former, told journalists at the Presidential Villa that Mr Osinbajo had a clear understanding of Nigeria’s crises.

“Of course, we seized the opportunity to interrogate some of the challenges we have in the nation.

“We are quite excited that from what the vice president said,” said the former governor on Wednesday. “He has a clear grasp of the challenges, and we are persuaded that efforts are being put in place.

“It is a very difficult period in the history of our nation, and all hands must be the deck.”

Expatiating his view, Mr Daniel, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress, stated, “You must be aware that I and a number of my colleagues recently joined the party, and part of what we have decided to do was to go round. 

“We have seen the party, (the) president and quite a number of the leaders.”

According to him, Nigerians must work with Mr Buhari’s regime to resolve the nation’s challenges, disclosing that his meeting with Mr Osinbajo was a courtesy call.

“It is also incumbent; in fact, we were to see the vice president after the president. But we didn’t have the opportunity until now. So, it is purely a courtesy call.”

According to him, if Mr Buhari’s regime could reduce poverty in the country and create employment for many, the country’s crises would be successfully tackled.

“There are various angles to it. But ordinarily, the only way to tackle security challenges is to tackle poverty and to create employment.

“When a large section of the populace is gainfully employed, you now will be able to isolate people who are sabotaging and who have other sinister motives,” said Mr Daniel.

He added, “But to the extent that we have not successfully been able to tackle unemployment, is for the main preoccupation of any administration.”