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Details Of His Life Outside Power
Since he left office as Vice President of Nigeria, a few weeks ago, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (PYO) has kept a low profile. He has continued to take things in his strides. He has spent more time at his Banana Island Lagos home. And he has taken up one or two new roles. He was recently involved in the monitoring of elections in Sierra Leone, one of the West African States and he joined the Board of an International Organisation called Global Energy Alliance for People & Planet.
When he was appointed Global Advisor to Global Energy Alliance he was excited to announce it. He also led the Commonwealth Secretariat Observer Group during the Sierra-Leone Multi-tier elections.
A few days back he and his wife attended the RCCG Olive Tree Church Thanksgiving Service in his honour.
Then, a few days ago, there was a Public Thanksgiving and Appreciation Reception held in his honour by the Ikenne Development Association. The event was held in his hometown, Ikenne, and it triggered a whole lot of debates among those are that for and against him. What is there to thank God for? Some asked? Some wondered where he would get the mammoth crowd that will welcome him back home. Of course, his supporters countered the critics of the VP, explaining that he had every cause to rejoice. The event took place last week.
Once Prof. Osinbajo and his entourage approached Ikenne town, he came down and trekked into town with Okada riders leading him and some school children waving flags. He also kept waving and acknowledging the greetings. His wife dazzled everyone at the reception when she came on stage with her husband and sang for him. “Osinbajo ma mi kan, a ti p’agbo yi o ka (2ce), 2nd stanza. Osinbajo ma mi kan ogun orun yi o ka (2ce), 3rd stanza. Osinbajo ma mi kan, a wa fi o yan gan (2ce), Ara e wo Omoluabi (2ce).
And she danced as she sang, which many saw as a strange thing for her to do. She does not like being drawn into such controversies. So pleasantly surprised was her husband that he could not help laughing heartily, watching his wife, Dolly sing and dance.
Prof. Osinbajo was immersed in Gratitude as Ikenne, “my cherished hometown, honours my 8 years of national service” he wrote on his Instagram page.
The event attracted the attendance of a few of his friends and associates like Gov. Dapo Abiodun, former Secretary to Governments, Boss Mustapha, Edo Governor, Obaseki, current Bayelsa Governor & previous Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, former President Goodluck Jonathan and a sprinkle of traditional rulers.
The fact that many of his core political associates in the APC were missing, sent tongues wagging. Is it that they were not invited or they turned down the invitation?
This further reopened the whole talk of Prof. Osinbajo being in the bad books of the APC hierarchy for the role he played during the last APC presidential primaries. City People gathered that before the Thanksgiving many APC members in the South-West had debated the property of attending and decided that they would stay away because of the possible negative fall outs that their attendance will bring.
It further reopened the whole allegation of Betrayal hurled at Prof. last year, because of his decision to contest for the APC presidential ticket with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. They saw it as betrayal for him to have accepted to run against his political godfather who made him VP to ex-President Buhari.
They felt he should have not contested at all. They further argued that when other Presidential aspirants decided to step down at the last minute, he should have joined them. And that this would have been the honourable thing to do. Many APC politicians who are pro-Tinubu feel bad about this.
There are also many APC politicians in the Remo area of Ogun State who feel bad that the former VP did not attract anything major in terms of Infrastructure to Ikenne or adjoining towns of Ijebu and Remo, area of the state.
They feel angry that for the 8 years he was VP, he didn’t make his impact felt.
One of his key aides who spoke to City People asked why anyone would want him to attend Osinbajo’s Thanksgiving when Tinubu is already in power. “There are so many lessons to learn from Prof. Osinbajo’s story.
The biggest lesson is that when you are in a position of authority, do good to your people. Another lesson is that there is no candle that burns forever”.
Since he left office there has been so much criticisms of the former VP, many of it bothering in his decision to contest against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at the primaries and the allegation that he didn’t help “his people” or bring development to his town, Remo or state.
Just before the APC presidential primaries, City People visited Ikenne to feel the pulse of the people about his decision to contest for the APC presidential ticket. And the reactions were mixed.
A few days ago, when the Thanksgiving was held, a documentary was shown Online of some Ikenne indigenes commending the former VP. They commended him for building a market for them and solar lights, tarred roads and the curbing of erosion threat.
When he contested and lost last year to Tinubu, the former 1st Lady, Aisha Buhari said the VP and his wife took it in bad faith. And that they withdrew to themselves. She complained via her speech at an event.
But one of the former VP’s loyalists wrote on Prof. Osinbajo’s IG wall that: We’re so proud of him. He did not win the primaries, but he did not lose his honour and integrity.
For the 8 years they were in power, his wife Oludolapo, did her best to support her husband. She concentrated on some pet projects like @myhandscraftsng, @gardeningng and @letswatchnpray. She is deeply religious. She was 55 last Saturday 15, July, 2023. On her birthday last Saturday he wrote this message to his wife. “Everyday, I realise how kind and generous God was by giving you to me”.
She is a Lawyer who has written a few books. She wrote Nigeria, A Prayer, A Song in September, 2020. On 23rd October, she presented her latest book at the evening of worship at Aguda House, her residence in Abuja. It is titled Let Us Pray, a 6 months daily prayer journal to the glory of God.
She also wrote another book in December 2022 titled Let Us Pray, 100 day devotional by Dolapo Osinbajo. There is also the 4th edition of a series of prayer journals.
Some insiders have explained why the former VP contested against Tinubu last year and how he was eager to emerge as the APC presidential candidate. “I think Prof. Osinbajo was just a captive of the contradictions in power. He is either a victim in a long episode of power play or a hero of his own conviction who lost out to a more potent and powerful force. He was the last in the serial elimination of potential obstacles to a strongly held ambition which started in 1999.”
“There are so many in politics today who have no business going into politics because the game is far too complex for the uninitiated.”
“And Prof. is just one of them. He is not cut out for the intrigues, the manipulations and the scheming involved in politics.
It is sad that he was VP for 8 years and he couldn’t build a solid base and political structure for himself. He also could not establish a political patronage to the grassroots”.
An insider revealed that Prof. Osinbajo actually believed he would win the APC presidential primaries, based on the assurances he got from some power brokers, in and outside government. “That was why he didn’t step down at Eagle Square for his Oga.”
To enable him emerge at the APC presidential primaries, a rally was held all over Remo to drum home support for him. One of it took place in Sagamu-remo. The town of Sagamu-Remo in Ogun State came alive that Wednesday, 23rd February 2022, as top Ogun APC leaders took to the streets of Sagamu, on a long walk, to campaign for Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo to join the 2023 Presidential race.
These top APC leaders were drawn from Remo North, Ikenne, Sagamu Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu Isiwo, Ijebu Waterside, and other neighbouring towns. And they mobilised members of their various wards (about 35 wards) to come out to campaign for VP Osinbajo, who they have nicknamed PYO.
Unfortunately, all that is history.
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