By Abdullahi Mohammed, Abuja
Ahead of the 2023 presidential elections, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on academics and members of other professional bodies to participate actively in the task of making Nigeria a better place for all.
Osinbajo stated this when he received a team of 13 professors from the six geo-political zones under the aegis of the Progressive Intellectuals Advisory Group (PIAG) at the State House in Abuja who came to endorse his presidential ambition.
“These days, you find all sorts of pretenders claiming expertise in everything under the sun without any real expertise. So, it is important that academics do not vacate that space to allow all sorts of people to begin to postulate on practically every issue,” he said.“One of the most important things I recall when I served first as Attorney General of Lagos State was that it is so important for those of us who are in academics to participate because not only are we among the more knowledgeable groups, we have also done more work.
“The path that you (the group) have chosen is a very crucial one because in the future, more intellectual groups will take the responsibility that is really theirs. And I think that for those of us who are from the academic community, it is a privilege that we have, being the intellectual crème de la crème of our society, and this comes with responsibility,” he said.He appreciated the group’s endorsement of his presidential ambition, saying: “If there is any sort of endorsement that has given me particular joy, it is this one; because if one is endorsed by professional colleagues, people who live their lives by critical analysis and evaluation; it is worth celebrating.
“These matters are not to be taken lightly. For a professor to say that he supports a political cause, it is a weighty matter indeed, because you are aware that a lot of reflections go into it.“But when you have 13 professors all over the country saying that they are aligned to one cause, I am greatly humbled. It is one of those things that doesn’t happen often.”While expressing appreciation, the Vice President expressed hope that the academics would “work together to make a significant difference for our country.”In his remarks, the leader of the group and Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Shehu Adamu, said the visit was to intimate the Vice President on activities of the group to support his ambition to become Nigeria’s President.
He said the academics were convinced of the Vice President’s capability to lead a more prosperous Nigeria, hence their resolve to endorse him and offer their expertise to ensure that the he emerges victorious in 2023.He said the group would engage in activities including media engagements, community mobilization and partnerships with other professionals to shape public opinion in a manner that would lead to a successful run by the Vice President in 2023.Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of Al-Kalam University in Katsina, Professor Nasiru Musa Yauri, said: “We have decided we will not fold our arms; we will do whatever it takes to actualise the PYO 2023 project.”Also speaking, the Head of Political Science Department at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, Professor Chukwuemeka Jaja Nwanegbo, said the academic community would “sit back and watch the political terrain disallow you from emerging. So, we want to work with you, other professionals and students to actualise your bid.
“Other academics at the meeting include Prof. Yahya T. Baba, Usman Danfodiyo University in Sokoto; Prof. Mashood Omotosho, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Associate Prof. Philips Okolo, Director of the Institute of Peace and Security Studies, Niger Delta University; Prof. Shola Omotola, Federal University Oye Ekiti; Prof. Sheikh Danjuma Abubakar, IBB University, Lapai; Associate Prof. Abdullahi Jibrin, Federal University Lafia; Associate Prof. Atelhe George, University of Calabar; Prof. Saleh Mohammed, Federal University Kashere, Gombe State; Prof. Haruna Lawal Modibbo Adama, University of Yola; and Prof. Ike-Elechi Ogba, Ebonyi State University.