Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has stated that Nigeria and its people are better together than being apart.
He made this claim as disclosed in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant, Laolu Akande, on Monday during his remarks at the 12th Bola Tinubu Colloquium in Kano State.
The Vice president spoke on the theme, “Our Common Bond, Our Common Wealth” at the event that marked the 69th birthday of the former Lagos Governor.
Osinbajo hailed Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, for accepting to host the event, noting that it was significant to the unity of the country.
He said “Let me say how deeply indebted we are to His Excellency the Governor of Kano State, Governor Umar Ganduje. Only a few days ago, we were set to have a completely virtual colloquium with a hub in Lagos, the customary location of the colloquium, when Governor Ganduje graciously offered to host the physical aspect of the hybrid colloquium.
“By this gesture governor Ganduje has helped us to tell two stories; this is the first time that the colloquium is being hosted outside Lagos and Abuja, the capital city. And it is befitting that Kano should be that place, this city of radical and progressive ideas and ideologies, a city whose leading political lights have been left of centre, which is the dominant tendency within our great party the APC.
“Second, it helps us to underscore the point that this country and its people are stronger and more powerful together than apart. For the purveyors of breaking up into small components/countries, perhaps they should be reminded that we would not have been able to accept Governor Ganduje’s offer to come to Kano at short notice, since we would all have needed visas to come to Kano.”
However, Osinbajo hailed the leadership style of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, describing it as” an unusual one especially in developing democracies.”
Osinbajo said “Central to that style is the following; first a belief that development, economic, social, political development depends on enabling a contest of ideas. Whether that is within a political party or its caucuses, a cabinet meeting or even just thinking through a problem.
“By exposing his thoughts and ideas constantly to debate and contestation, he refines his views constantly and is at the cutting edge of issues as varied as artificial intelligence, vaccines, to even what sort of legal processes or arguments should be filed in a matter in court!”
