Osinbajo’s popularity soars, as Northern Islamic clerics back him to succeed President Buhari

*As Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi prays for him to succeed his boss

BY OUR REPORTER

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has been described as a man of integrity, who has the requisite experience and leadership qualities, to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

This was the position taken by some prominent Islamic clerics in Kano, Sokoto, Bauchi and in some other states of the North that this online newspaper can authoritatively report.

The influential clerics said Nigeria cannot afford to play money politics during the 2023 general elections and urged the All Progressive Congress (APC) delegates to choose aspirant with “conscience with a good track record, without corruption allegations.”

The DEFENDER reports that Osinbajo, a pastor of repute, securing support of core North Islamic clerics could not be far from his ability to stand against ethnic and religious sentiments having been keenly studied for the seven years he has worked with President Muhammadu Buhari, another Nigerian without the spirit of ethnic and religious sentimentalism.

It will be recalled, when told by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other persons believed to be working for Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) while their unguarded utterances whipping religious sentiment lasted that he is Christians’ representation in the Buhari’s government, Osinbajo was said have replied them that he was not representative of Christians but Nigerians as Vice President of the Federal Republic.

In Sokoto, Malam Abdulmalik Bello, Imam, Gagi Community Juma’at Mosque, said it is only the Vice President that can take Nigeria out of the challenges it faced presently.

He noted that Nigeria needs a unifier, a man who can give a “sense of belonging” to every Nigerian irrespective of tribe or religion.

“For me, I think the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo can take us out of the present bad condition we are in at the moment. Nigeria is a country with many tribes and religion, we need someone who can unify the country and every part would have a sense of belonging.

“Therefore, it is time to elect based on competence, courage and character and the vice president is the man that can take Nigeria out of the present challenges,” he said.

Bello also urged President Buhari to choose his VP as the candidate of his party and successor.

“The Vice President is the best for now because he is of good age to deliver a good leadership to Nigerians and has shown courage when given the opportunity to act as President.

“If given the opportunity to lead, he can take good decisions that will help the country, looking at his educational background and experience in governance.”

Also speaking in Sokoto, Prof Sani Sagir of Physics Department, Usmanu Danfodio University, Imam and Deputy National President 1, Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’a Waiqamatusunnah, said politics is very important in Islam as it gives the opportunity to chose ones leaders.

He therefore called on APC delegates to elect a leader that has the fear of God and is courageous to take the right decisions, someone who can be just to all not minding his geographic location or religion but he must be a man of justice and fair play.

Sagir noted that the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has all the requirements to succeed as a president and he has been very loyal to president Muhammadu Buhari.

Sagir said: “We have never heard president Buhari complain about the Vice President or having any allegation of corruption against him.

“My advice to the political parties is to choose good candidates that are educated and humble, who can listen to the plight of the ordinary people.

“We need someone who is very patient in listening, and courageous to do the right thing, and also a person who is trustworthy and among this features, I mentioned the Vice President because he has all the qualities, he is very educated and courageous and trustworthy because for the several times the president gave him opportunity as acting president he has delivered and we have not heard the president for once complain about him.

” So I see him as the best among all the candidates in the ruling APC.”

Another cleric in Sokoto Sheikh Muhammad Talata-Mafara, also cautioned Nigerians against money bags and urged them to vote in the right person. He said: “A good leader is a person with peoples’ interests at heart, piety and submits himself to improving their living standard.”

Talata-Mafara, a renowned Islamic scholar, who translated many Islamic books, especially those written by Sheikh Usman Bin Fodio, also called on Nigerians to consider capability and achievements in supporting any presidential aspirant and other people seeking elective positions.

Speaking in the same vein in Kano, Sheikh Bilal Jabir-Elkanawy, called on Nigerians to ensure transparency and fairness during the electioneering, while delegates should vote for the most credible candidates at the primary.

The prominent cleric Jabir-Elkanawiy cautioned against selling votes to the highest bidders or political moneybags.

He said: “Selling votes against their conscience to the highest bidders or moneybags is dangerous and it is against Islam.

“Nigerians need to chose a credible candidate from the primary for the masses to make their choice during the general elections in 2023. I want to urge all delegates and Nigerians to vote wisely, because of their children, their relatives and for the interest of our great nation, Nigeria.”

The cleric described Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo “as a leader whose excellence in academics covers most disciplines and relevant to modern development, to tackle the challenges of the nation.”

Earlier in Bauchi

The DEFENDER recalled that recently, precisely on May 11, 2022, Northern Nigerian favour Islamic cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, had during the visit of the Vice President to him in Bauchi commended his commitment to national unity.

Bauchi, who was elated by the Osinbajo’s visit, promised he would double his prayers for the success of his aspiration to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari come 2023.

These are Islamic clerics, who have refused to behave like Christian Association of Nigeria and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, whose major role urging Christians not to vote for Muslim and Northern candidates in 2015 and 2019 played huge role in the division that the nation has witnessed.

But Islamic clerics largely of Northern Nigeria, knowing that Osinbajo though a committed pastor, is on the path of truth that would not divide the country along ethnic and religion lines, are saying it is his time to rule.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was accompanied to Sheikh Bauchi at his residence in Bauchi by Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, former Governor of Bauchi State Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar and some members of the National Assembly, was in the state capital to meet delegates of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in his aspiration to rule Nigeria when he paid the Islamic cleric the visit during which he secured his blessings.

The visibly elated Islamic scholar said, “I will cherish this visit for a long time because I have finally met you after previous communication by phone.

“I have been praying for you before now and now that you are running I will double up my prayer for you.

“All the things you have in mind God will grant you, we are going to support you so that when next you come here it would be as president of our country.”

Both the Islamic scholar and the VP had been talking on phone for a long period and exchanging pleasantries although they have not heard the opportunity of a physical meeting until that time.

In his response, the vice president thanked the revered cleric for the warm reception, commending his disposition to the unity of Nigeria.

His words: “I am happy to see you. You are someone I hold in very high esteem. The reason is that you have always been one of the strongest advocates for the unity of this country and for tolerance amongst all our religious faiths.”

“You are somebody who has preached peace and you motivate us all the time. I have listened to you several times and I must commend your courage,” the VP had said.

Informing the religious leader about his quest for the presidency of Nigeria, Prof. Osinbajo said “we believe that the common man must be the centre of everything that we do and must have the opportunity to live their lives, have jobs, and we must provide those jobs.”

Continuing, he said “I put myself forward to run as the presidential candidate of our party and as you know, I have been vice president for the past 7 years and God helping us for another 1 year until the expiration of our tenure.

“During that period, I have had the privilege of serving under an open-hearted leader, President Muhammadu Buhari who has made sure that I learn everything about governing a diverse country and a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country such as ours.”

The VP solicited the support and prayers of the cleric to enable him continue with the task of transforming the Nigerian economy.