Fayemi, Pastors laud selection of Osinbajo as running mate to Buhari

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A former Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the National Convention Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Kayode Fayemi, as well as the Pastors Council of Northern Nigeria, have hailed the choice of Yemi Osinbajo as the running mate to Muhammadu Buhari, the party’s presidential candidate for the February 14, 2015 election.

Mr. Fayemi, whose committee conducted the APC convention and presidential primary that produced Mr. Buhari as the party’s presidential flag bearer, said in a statement in Lagos on Thursday that Mr. Osinbajo’s choice further reinforced the party’s determination to effect the change which Nigerians have for long clamoured for.

Describing Mr. Osinbajo as a renowned teacher, legal expert, administrator and a reform-minded technocrat, who embodies the virtues of honesty, integrity, selflessness and dedication to the overall good of the society, Mr. Fayemi said the university don remained a strategic partner to Mr. Buhari in the task of driving the change.

“Every time pundits come up with their doomsday predictions of APC’s imminent collapse, APC comes out stronger right from its founding,” Mr.Fayemi said. “The choice of Osinbajo is also leaving us much stronger for the task ahead. I commend General Buhari and other party leaders for arriving at a choice that is bound to strengthen our ticket.”

Mr. Fayemi added that regardless of what sceptics are saying the APC was set to run an issue-based campaign and carry along every segment of the society in the electoral process that would culminate in APC emerging victorious at the 2015 presidential election.

He added that the choice of Mr. Buhari as Presidential candidate and Mr. Osinbajo as running mate has re-defined the 2015 contest and become a concern to the ruling party.

Mr. Fayemi urged Nigerians to support the APC in bringing about the change which Nigeria and its people so urgently need, by voting massively for the party at the coming polls.

On their part, the Pastors council said the choice of Mr. Osinbajo heralded hope for a new Nigeria in view of his experience in public and private sectors and also being a pastor of the Redeem Christian Church of God, RCCG.

Addressing journalists Thursday in Kaduna North-West Nigeria, the convener of the council, Bulus Yahaya, urged Nigerians to insist that the best leadership emerged out of the 2015 general elections.

“We are happy and satisfied to no end that our colleague, Pastor Osinbajo was chosen as running mate to a presidential candidate in one of the political parties. The integrity, intelligence, humility, fear of God and dedication of Pastor Osinbajo to the cause of better Nigeria is a clear identity he carries as a breastplate and it is not in doubt that it is a wise decision.

“With this development, it is a good omen and taking Nigeria’s democracy to greater height in view of quality and positive credence to our struggling democracy. His credentials are intimidating and clear attestation of hard work, knowledge and of moral standing.

“He is an erudite scholar having excelled as a university don, and also a distinguished lawyer with the privilege rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a successful man of God, being a pastor,” he said.

On the need to achieve successful 2015 general elections, Mr. Yahaya, who warned against manipulation of religion said:

“We are calling on all Nigerians to shun manipulators of religion for political goals, let us vote people on the basis of what they can offer and better the country for common good, peace and stability.

“We must strive hard to run issue base political process, non-combative and free of sentimental campaigns of calumny so that we will at the end of the day get viable leadership at all levels.”