At last, Buhari unveils Redeemed Pastor, Osinbajo as running mate

Buhari unveiling Osinbajo yesterday

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, has, at last, unveiled his running mate in the 2015 presidential election scheduled for February 14, 2015.

The running mate is the former Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, a senior pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

Buhari unveiled Osinbajo at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

The news conference, which commenced at about 5pm, was the height of the waiting game for the unveiling of the vice presidential candidate.

According to reports, Osibajo sealed the ticket last night after party bigwigs weighed the various options for the pairing and ruled out a muslim-muslim combination.

This shut the door against a possible pairing of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu with Buhari but opened the door to having Osibajo, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo among others.

Speaking during the press conference, Buhari disclosed that the process of selecting the vice presidential candidate was rigorous, meticulous, and objective and involved broad consultations with the party leaders and others outside the party.

``The challenging process of rescuing our country and changing Nigeria for good has commenced.

``One of the first decisions that I have to make is the choice of the vice-presidential candidate and my running mate.

``To assist me in this great task of securing Nigeria's future, I have chosen a man of unimpeachable integrity.

``He is an excellent professional, a man of faith, a devoted family man and a role model to our fellow countrymen and women,’’ he said.

``He is a professor of law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

``An alumnus of the University of Lagos and the London School of Economics, a prodigious author who has to his credit several books on civil procedure in Nigerian superior courts.

``The vice-presidential candidate is a friend of the less-privileged, compassionate and zealous in service, a man of uncommon humility, a loyal, dependable and selfless patriot,’’ he added.

Buhari pledged to uphold every promise he made after emerging as APC flag-bearer and thanked everyone who had identified with him after he clinched the ticket.

``The huge outpouring of support and acceptance has been a great encouragement to me and hardened my resolve to lead the process of rebuilding a new Nigeria and securing our future,’’ he said.

Accepting the challenge to run alongside Buhari, Osibajo said, ``I am deeply honoured and grateful to have been nominated as the vice-presidential candidate of our party.

``I also thank the leaders and elders of our great party, APC, for the trust reposed in me. The task of rebuilding this nation is one to which I am fully committed.

``There can be no other president, leader and commander that can lead that common sense revolution which Nigeria urgently needs than Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. I will proudly serve this country with him.’’

Osibajo lauded the retired general’s ‘’uprightness and fierce commitment’’ to good governance.

According to him, it will be a privilege to work with him for a better Nigeria.