Presidential Primaries: Shun Votes Selling, Security Expert Appeals to APC Delegates

A security expert, Major General, Pat Akem-Vingir (retd.) has appealed to delegates to the forthcoming presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to shun votes selling or buying.

Vingir also admonished them to vote for Nigerian Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, whom he described as the most prepared presidential aspirant, in the interest of national development.

The former military officer, who made the call on Sunday during a virtual political discussion, tagged; ‘Think Osinbajo’ with Osinbajo Think Tank Group, advised the delegates to shun money bag politicians in the interest of peace and national unity.

“I appeal to you (delegates) to think about your children and grandchildren. Think of what kind of Nigeria you want to bequeath to them rather than what the money bags might give you,” he said.

He noted that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is the most fit for the job, adding that he has never failed in his given mandates.

“I have known Professor Yemi Osinbajo for over 30 years now and I can boldly say he is the most prepared among all the aspirants. He is intelligent, diligent, and bold. He knows how to build his network and teams,” he opined.

Vingir listed some possible areas of Osinbajo’s blueprint to include improved road construction, improved health care and better security architecture.

He also said that if elected as president, Osinbajo will reduce the bureaucratic system that he said has been tying down the nation’s economy for years.

He stated further that for Nigeria to improve as a nation, she needs Osinbajo, whom he described as a democrat that would put in place peaceful policies that will create more jobs.

“Osinbajo is a democrat, who believes in the power of the state, rights of Nigerians, and rule of law. We have seen him act in that manner many times. So, it is only right for Nigeria to give him a chance to lead us,” he said.

Akem-Vingir, a former Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, appealed to delegates across the nation to consider Vice President Osinbajo, who he said is a multi-ethnic sensitive man, as their preferred candidate during the party primaries.

He added that the Vice President’s intellectual history matches the political tides in the country, noting that he had brought his dynamism to bear during his short stay as the Acting President of Nigeria, when President Muhammadu Buharu traveled out of the country for medical care.

“VP Osinbajo, no doubt, understands Nigeria. He understands the socio-economic dynamics of the nation and the problem that is associated with insecurity. He will definitely tackle insecurity with a new strategy that will stop the menace,” Vingir said.

Akem-Vingir is a lawyer, military strategist, leadership expert and coach (Certified Leadership Challenge Coach/Facilitator) and CEO of BluePoint Leadership Consulting.

He has a Ph.D in Criminal Justice with concentration in Global Leadership from Walden University, Minnesota, USA and he is the author of “Winning Leadership – Strategic Leadership in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous World.”

-Kunle Bakare.