ABUJA—Three weeks to first anniversary of the present government, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has revealed that how be became the running mate to President Mohammadu Buhari, saying his disposition to fight corruption in Nigeria was the motivating factor. Osinbajo spoke at a non-denominational conference organized by the Covenant Christian Centre in Abuja on Saturday. He recalled that he had co-founded a professional a group in 1995 that upheld integrity as a hallmark to fighting corruption and upholding good governance.
He also recalled that he was 24 years when his boss became the Military Head of State, stressing that providence brought them together. He said: “Permit me to begin (the speech) with a story about myself. All my adult life, I have always believed that our country was performing far below its potentialities, in practically every aspect of life.
“In governance, corruption was always so outrageous that it made the majority poor and development almost impossible. Law and order was always a problem, usually no consequence for wrong-doing. ‘’Doing business and even our daily existence have always been difficult, no power, no fuel.
Getting anything done in government establishments, a nightmare of delay and extortion. “So as a conscious decision, I joined various pressure groups. From human rights groups to good governance advocacy groups. In 1995, I co- founded an organization called Integrity, an anti-corruption organization. I joined various think tanks and professional groups, including the Concerned Professionals.”
The Vice President then recalled a situation of harassment and intimidation his group suffered under the Abacha regime. “Under the Abacha regime we Concerned Professionals, one day gathered at Yaba Bus-stop and some were thoroughly beaten by Police and the Army.
From that day on, people disappeared and did not show up again. “I served as a two-term Attorney- General in Lagos State and pushed reforms in governance and the justice sector, I believed and continued to believe that the Nigerian people deserve better lives.”
“In December 2014, the unexpected happened; I was
