Osinbajo stated this in Abuja on Monday evening at the
public presentation of a book titled ‘Politics that Works – What Schools and
Seminars won’t Teach You about Winning Elections’, co-authored by Sen. Babafemi
Ojudu and Mr. Alex James.
According to the Vice President, “our generational
challenges have the generational solutions, let’s just face the issues and
solve them, whether we are in government or planning to get into government.
“We mustn’t give up and we mustn’t keep looking back. The
challenges of today are meant for those of us who are here and alive today. And
they are meant to be solved by young people, and as I always say, there is no
better time to be alive. This is the best time in Nigeria to be young. Those
who are young today have the best opportunity ever.
“I think this country needs the best minds. If you look at
the variety of talents that we have, we have everything that it takes for a
great country but it is the coming together of like minds, coming together of
people who agree on the same things, old or young.
“I don’t think we should divide ourselves along these lines
because this country can be great but we need that coming together of the best
minds whether male or female,” the VP added.
He continued: “For me, my central concern is how do we get
the very best people to work in the interest of this country, how do we get the
best people to project the image of the country?”
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, attends the Book Launch;
Politics That Works, authored by Senator Babafemi Ojudu and Adekunle James at
the NAF Centre in Kado, Abuja. 4th October, 2021. Photo: Tolani Alli
Speaking further, Osinbajo noted that “my view is that we
must continue to work at it, we must continue to make the sacrifice that is
required to be able to get our views across and we must continue to organize to
do so. We can’t give up, we can’t say things are so difficult, it is so
difficult to enter the space. If we keep at it, one day, we will get the right
result, we will get the right mix.
“Every country deserves excellent leadership; it deserves
the best it can get. But excellent leadership doesn’t come by accident. It
doesn’t come by lack of effort; you just have to keep making the effort.”
Emphasizing the need for a level-playing field for all
aspiring politicians, the VP said “I am very strongly of the view that everyone
must be invited to the party. The important thing is that we have, as well as
possible, a level playing field.”
His words: “the problem also with liberal politics is money.
Who has the resources? Because resources will to a large extent determine who
can play the game. So, there are barriers.
“I think what is important is to see how we can remove those
barriers as much as possible so there is a level playing field. What I have
experienced serving in the position as Vice President in the past few years and
having the opportunity to bring on board young people, some elderly people in
relative terms, is that the quality of the contributions is not necessarily
defined by age.”
The VP clarified the impression that a level playing field
should be defined by age. He noted that “…we must focus our minds, a little
more on what people bring to the table. I don’t engage on the basis of age.”
Making the point about experience, Osinbajo opined that
“there is a place for preparation, a place for getting ready. There is no point
saying that I have become Minister of Finance at the age of 25 because I am a
smart kid. It takes more than that.”
He added: “I don’t agree that a special assistant or special
adviser is not a somewhat serious position. Every special assistant or special
adviser that I have, take very important decisions. And they take those very
important decisions on their own.
“The truth is that, the way governments are set up,
everybody there can play a very serious role. It depends on how very serious
you are. My experience is that there is such a variety of talents, some are
old, some are young, male or female. I really will like us to zero in on the
real needs of our nation.”
Other dignitaries present at the event include former
Governors of Edo, Adams Oshiomhole; Osun, Rauf Aregbesola; Zamfara, Ahmed
Yerima; Kano, Ibrahim Shekarau, and former Senate Leader, Sen. Ndoma Egba, among
others.
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