By Kolawole Ojebisi
Eminent journalist and former Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu has explained why former Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, would have been a better helmsman at this specific time in Nigeria’s development trajectory than Bola Tinubu, the incumbent president of Nigeria.
Ojudu, who was also a Senator from Ekiti State and one of the frontline journalists in the vanguard for the battle for restoration of democracy in Nigeria noted that Osinbajo possesses the qualities needed to stir the ship of state to the shore of possibilities at this specific moment.
The former legislator and now farmer based in Ekiti State shared his thoughts and perspectives during an appearance on the State of Affairs podcast, hosted by Mr Edmund Obilo.
Reflecting on Osinbajo’s potential, Ojudu said, “This country would have gone places with him if he had the opportunity, but it didn’t happen.”
Ojudu emphasized that his perspective came from personal experience, having worked with both Tinubu and Osinbajo. “Having worked with Tinubu in the past, I feel his philosophy is not suitable for Nigeria at this point. Osinbajo was the best person to govern at that time, having seen him up close,” Ojudu explained.
Ojudu also raised concerns about the “Emi Lokan” ideology associated with President Tinubu, describing it as unsuitable for the nation’s current needs. “I’m not Emi Lokan,” he remarked, adding, “The philosophy of Emi Lokan was not appropriate at this time.”
Ojudu who praised Osinbajo as a visionary leader and argued that effective governance requires collaboration with a team that shares the same vision, maintained that it is for that reason that visionary leaders succeed where others fail or falter.
He explained: “Whoever is going to run this country successfully must not work alone. They must collaborate with competent people across various sectors. You can’t be president and have ineffective leadership in institutions like the police, customs, immigration, or judiciary. Everyone must align with your ideals and vision.”
Ojudu’s comments have since triggered discussions and comments about leadership and governance in Nigeria, particularly regarding the choices made during the last presidential election season that saw Osinbajo defeated by Tinubu in the All Progressives Congress(APC) presidential primaries.
