Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s recent presidential declaration has ignited fierce debate, especially among supporters of Bola Tinubu, who feel betrayed by Osinbajo’s ambition to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari. Tinubu’s allies argue that Osinbajo owes loyalty to his political mentor, Tinubu, who appointed him Attorney-General of Lagos State during his governorship.
Osinbajo’s speech, however, emphasized his experience working within the government and visiting conflict zones, IDP camps, and disaster victims as signs of his qualifications for the presidency. His critics point out that this attempt to highlight personal achievements masks the broader failures of the administration, including its inability to handle the insecurity, economic instability, and social discontent ravaging Nigeria.
Osinbajo’s claim that the government must “complete what we started” has drawn concern, as many Nigerians fear this signals a continuation of the perceived failures under Buhari’s administration. Critics argue that he has been deeply involved in policies that have worsened the country’s situation. Under his chairmanship of economic reforms, for example, deregulation and currency devaluation have caused significant economic stress.
The promises of national cohesion and improved welfare, central to Osinbajo’s campaign, are seen by some as a rhetorical exercise similar to Buhari’s 2015 promises of tackling corruption and insecurity, which many feel have been unmet. Furthermore, Osinbajo’s role in the administration’s economic failures, management of IDP welfare, and his reluctance to criticize Buhari’s sectional politics undermine his presidential bid, according to detractors.
The larger issue remains whether Osinbajo’s candidacy is genuinely a shift from the status quo or merely an extension of the existing government, which has faced widespread criticism for its handling of the economy, national security, and governance. His focus on continuing the work of the Buhari administration has raised doubts about whether his presidency would lead to the reforms Nigerians desire. His critics see him as complicit in policies that have brought Nigeria to its current crisis, marked by inflation, human rights abuses, insecurity, and the deterioration of public services.
Osinbajo’s challenge is to present himself as a viable alternative while distancing himself from the government he has been part of for the last eight years. However, with many Nigerians disillusioned by the performance of Buhari’s government, convincing the public that he represents real change may be his most significant hurdle. As the 2023 elections approach, Osinbajo’s ability to navigate these political complexities will be crucial in determining whether he can overcome the skepticism surrounding his candidacy.
