Lawyers come out in en masse for Osinbajo

The Vice-Presidential bid of the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard bearer in the forthcoming general elections, General Muhammadu Buhari and  Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) brightened at the weekend when Prof. Osinbajo’s  professional colleagues, friends  and well wishers gathered at the Lagoon Restaurant, Lagos,  to demonstrate their support for the wind of change blowing across the country.

Prof. Osinbajo is  Vice-Presidential candidate to the APC Presidential candidate in the election, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). The duo have vowed to transform the country and restore Nigeria to the path of greatness.

In his welcome speech at the event, former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Commissioner for Lands in Lagos State, Mr. Fola Arthur- Worrey described Osinbajo as a man of sound moral  convictions whose views, philosophy  and commitment to the rule of  law contributed immensely to the development of Lagos State judiciary.

Former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Mr. Supo Sasore (SAN) stated that  the Office of Public Defender (OPD) which Prof. Osinbajo introduced into Lagos State judiciary during his tenure Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice  in Lagos State has contributed greatly to the speedy dispensation of justice in the State. Sasore attributed his success and achievements as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State to the solid foundations laid by Osinbajo who preceded him in the office.

Osinbajo commended the collegiate system and continuity in the running of the affairs of Lagos State, a system he said,  that allows former Commissioners and officers of the State to come in any time and make their modest contributions to the running of the affairs of the government.

He graphically showed how support and popularity for  the APC has grown across the country in recent months and concluded that by the grace of God, APC will win the forthcoming elections at the centre.

Osinbajo said: “ We have an incredible opportunity for change in this country, it has never happened before, that you have an opposition that is capable of taking over the government of the country. It is clear that the APC has a clear chance of winning the election come February 2015”

Prof. Osinbajo stated that he has had the opportunity of interacting with General Buhari and one thing is very clear, that Buhari is absolutely committed to this country and that is very important to him. He said: “ All of us must take the issue of corruption and transparency very serious because the issues around corruption is what is largely responsible for the problems of this country today.

He quoted Gen. Buhari as saying that: “Corruption is so pervasive in the country today that if you get to the office and begin to  investigate  people, you won’t go far,  how many people will you investigate. For instance,  about 400 barrels of crude oil  is reported missing from the country every day and if you calculate this, it is equivalent to  the money that  the Federal Government and all the States share every month. APC government at the centre will stop corruption in high places.

“ As an emergency measure, we shall create about 20,0000 jobs  for unemployed Youths and this will alleviate their sufferings. We shall give stipends to the to our graduates till one year after their National Youth Service to enable them to move round and look for jobs, during this time,   we shall provide them with some entrepreneurial  skills to enable them to be self employed. We shall give more incentives and encouragements to the banks and other employers of labour so that they employ more hands, the power sector will be revamped to make electricity available to more Nigerians.

Osinbajo said: “ You cannot build a gas infrastructure in less than 15 years,  but we shall encourage more Independent Power Plants (IPPs) as experimented in Lagos State. Small IPP here and there will meet the electricity needs of the people, we must look for a way to make sure that electricity transmission is privatised, it is currently in the hands of the Federal Government and managed by a Canadian firm.

On agriculture, he said: This sector is going to generate  some employment, we shall go back  Produce buying, for every farm produce produced in this country, the government will buy it at a very good price and pay. This will serve as an incentive and motivate people to go into farming because no matter what happens, government will buy and pay. Look at Thailand and India, the time to do business in Nigeria is generally  too long, we need a one stop shop to clean up the whole thing.

“APC government will provide social security for the disabled and elderly ones in the country. This  is already being practised by Osun State government. Osun is the poorest State but one in Nigeria, yet it is able to fund this, paying between N10,000.00-N20, 000.00 monthly stipend to this class of Nigerians to alleviate their sufferings. We shall provide launch for School children in the country. Research has shown that children who take launch in school across the world do better than those who do not take launch. Government must concern itself with the welfare of the people”

On healthcare and education, Osinbajo said: “ There will be free education for teachers, engineering, science, technology  which will have direct effect o our development and technology” Prof. Osinbajo said that tha APC has taken time to research and came out with a manifesto which has been presented to those who will implement it, Gen. Buhari and Prof. Osinbajo himself, by the grace of God, within one year of the inauguration of the government of Gen. Buhari  at the centre,this country will no longer be the same again”