The coalition of Northern Nigerian Youth has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to halt any attempt that can lead to maltreatment or embarrassment of any kind on the personality and Office of the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Speaking to the journalists in Kano on Monday, September 23, Mallam Yusuf Abdulmalik, leader of the coalition, said he believes that the news going around the media that the presidency is moving to reduce the powers of the vice president and subsequently sideline him, is a rumour.
He said any attempt to do so would label President Buhari and by extension the north as ungrateful people, creating a bad image for the region to the entire world.
According to him, Osinbajo has displayed maximum loyalty to the president both in his presence and absence.
He further said the vice president is the face of the Christian and strength of the Yorubas and the south in Buhari administration, hence, he should never be abandoned at any time.
He noted that the smooth relationship between Buhari and Osinbajo in the last four years has given more life to the one Nigeria spirit and should never be allowed to be destroyed by some selfish individuals, who he sai, are hidden under the bed to stain the hard-earned integrity of the president.
Abdul-Malik recalled how the vice president touched every nook and cranny of the country during the reelection campaign, preaching the Next Level message of the president.
He described Osinbajo as an accomplished professor of law and a great servant of God and urged the president to put a stop to any attempt to strip him of his constitutional powers in favour of anyone within or outside the government.
He further described Osinbajo as a genuine leader with bold ideas for solving problems. He stressed that the vice president brought stability to the nation’s economy through the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
“The vice president has been the driver of key government initiatives, especially the programmes targeted to improve the lives of the poor,” he said.
He advised the president to work harmoniously and give his deputy more responsibilities and a freer hand to operate within the government.
Abdulmalik cautioned the president and everyone around him to resist any temptation to undermine the power of the Office of the Vice President.
He concluded that the contributions and ideas of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are needed to successfully move Nigeria to the next level.
Recall that the presidency, through its special assistant on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, dismissed reports that the office of the vice president has been sidelined and rendered redundant.
This is coming after mixed reactions trailed President Buhari’s constitution of an Economic Advisory Team (EAC) to replace the Economic Management Team (EMT) headed by Osinbajo.
Adesina said that the insinuation that there is a rift between Osinbajo and the president is being spread by detractors of the federal government.
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