Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has revealed that he received the news of his nomination as Vice President in 2014 from the former Governor of the State of Osun and current Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.
Osinbajo also said his nomination as running mate to then-candidate Muhammadu Buhari in the build-up to the 2015 presidential election came to him as a surprise.
The Vice President narrated the story of his emergence on Wednesday when he hosted members of the State House Press Corps to a breaking of fast (Iftar) at his Aguda Residence at the President Villa, Abuja.
According to him, “I was working on the case at Peniel Apartments in Abuja on December 18, 2014, when at about 1 a.m. in the morning, I received a call from Rauf Aregbesola that they were coming to Lagos to pick me.
“I said I was in Abuja. He said ‘good because you have been nominated as the vice-presidential candidate’ and I said is that how you nominate people.”
Osinbajo said Ogbeni Aregbesola, and former Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, later in the day took him to the presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.
He said he was telling his story to the journalists to let them know that an individual’s life can change at any minute
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Osinbajo said he has always believed in and worked for a better Nigeria all his life and his decision to run for the office of president in the 2023 election is to enable him to make a difference. He said very few people have the kind of training and experience that he has.
He said he has, prior to and after he declared to run for president, met with various groups including governors, delegates and party leaders. He, however, said the Iftar with the journalists is the first one he is holding with a group that will not vote at the party primaries.
Professor Osinbajo drew laughter from his audience when he said: “I am probably meeting you for your financial contribution.”
“I don’t know why you think it’s a joke,” he said, drawing more laughter from the press corps member.
Speaking earlier, the interim chairman of the State House Press Corps, Ismaila Chafe, said many members of the corps have been reporting from the Presidential Villa for over a decade.
“We have seen presidents and vice presidents come and go. But with profound humility, we can say that you have made a difference in the way you have related with the State House Press Corps.”
