Osinbajo: Our country needs proactive leaders ‘ready to bring Nigerians together’

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says the current challenges affecting the country require proactive leaders who are prepared to bring Nigerians together.
Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the vice president expressed this view in Lagos during a courtesy visit to the palace of Oniru of Iruland, Oba Abdulwasiu Lawal.
The traditional ruler is  celebrating his first coronation anniversary.
Osinbajo commended Lawal for being a leader to people of diverse socio-ethnic backgrounds
“Our country needs all the leaders, the best leaders, the most proactive leaders, leaders prepared to bring the country together.
” Lagos is a microcosm of Nigeria, everybody is here, if things work out well here, things will be okay in the country.
“I am sure your role here is that of someone who brings together communities not just Yoruba, but everybody.
“And I can see that from your choice of chiefs, you have gone to other parts, and I think this is the attitude of great leaders.”
The vice president prayed for a successful reign on the throne for the traditional ruler.
He said that the progress of the kingdom and its people would be determined by the quality of leadership the Oba provided, which was a yardstick to measure the role of traditional rulers in the country.
“You should know that you are always in my prayers because I believe that your role is crucial not just for the development of this state, but for the whole country.
“Today, you cannot relegate traditional rulers because of the exposure and education of those who occupy that position.”
Also, in an interview with newsmen at the palace, Osinbajo said the future of Iruland was bright with a traditional ruler like Laws.
“I have known the Oniru for quite some time now; he is somebody who I have a great deal of respect for, and I know that the future of this community is bright with the Oniru.
“He is not just someone who is thoroughly educated but a visionary.
“He is someone who sees the future and is ready in ensuring that he brings the future in a very short time,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, Lawal thanked the vice president for his leadership and commitment to the progress of the country.
He pledged the support of the entire kingdom for the Federal Government.
Lawal said that Osinbajo’s leadership was an example for other leaders across the country to follow.
“You are a leader whose direction we will continue to follow.
“The relationship between the vice president and I had been very cordial.
“We belong to the same school of thought; he calls and advises me on several issues.
“I want to assure you, Mr Vice President, that I will not disappoint you, I will ensure the progress of this kingdom and I will be just,” he said.
Meanwhile, Osinbajo has said that there was an urgent need to present  aggressive counter-narratives to the socio-cultural misconceptions about Albinism.
Osinbajo said this at  a virtual event to mark World Albinism Day, with the theme, “Strength Beyond All Odds.’’
The virtual event attended by a number of distinguished personalities, including diplomats such as the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, was held on June 13.
Osinbajo participated in the virtual event upon landing in Lagos from Abuja, on his way to a number of events later in Lagos.
According to Osinbajo, it is paramount to have conversations around the safety and enablement of  citizens who live with Albinism.
“There is a need to see it for what it is, a genetic difference not a contagious disease or a public health problem.
“In dealing with the various challenges faced by those with albinism, there is the need to have frank and robust conversations around the protection and empowerment of our compatriots that live with albinism.
“These conversations will drive change on two levels – in the public domain, where sociocultural perceptions of Albinism that are rooted in ignorance and superstition can finally be laid to rest.”
The vice president said that it would not be an easy task because superstition and socio-cultural issues took a while to deal with, but stakeholders must aggressively begin to present counter-narratives to the socio-cultural misconceptions about the condition.
“Secondly, interventions made must be designed to improve the lives of people living with Albinism.
“The time is now to do more to reverse negative mindsets and socio-cultural stereotypes about albinism in our society.
“We must also go further to take deliberate steps, as private individuals and public servants, by giving them equal opportunity in the workplace and in social settings as well.’’
He commended the convener of the event, Mr Jake Eppele, for his advocacy for albinos, describing him as one of the most eloquent and influential spokespersons for the rights, protection, and welfare of albinos in Nigeria and globally.
“I think it is the hard work of people like Eppele and in response to the numerous challenges faced by the Albino community in the country that led to the adoption in 2012, of the National Policy on Albinism”, Osinbajo said.
He added that the objective of the policy was to assist persons with Albinism and provide them with as conducive an environment as possible for their self-actualisation.
“Subsequently, in 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the inauguration of a technical committee to review the policy in order to assess its success since implementation and facilitate the access of persons living with Albinism to social services, particularly education and healthcare,’’ he said.
In his remarks, Eppele commended the vice president for making out time to attend the virtual event, despite being on transit, describing Osinbajo as a man of his words.
“Even though you are travelling and in transit, you stopped over just to address us; it shows us how passionate you are of the less privileged.
“I also want to say that you have made history by becoming the first vice president globally, to address persons with Albinism on this day and I have it on record,” Eppele said.