Former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has said that politics
should be centered on providing essential services and not the other way round.
Osinbajo stated this while delivering a keynote address at
the Rotary International District 9141 Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers
State, on the topic “The Magic of Connection: The Imperative and Privilege of
Service.”
He outlined the essential services as quality education,
accessible healthcare, and a robust social security system, which he described
as basic rights of every citizen.
Osinbajo stressed the importance of service-oriented leadership in politics and governance, describing it as both imperative and a privilege.
The ex-Vice President referenced Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s
introduction of free basic education in Western Nigeria as a historical example
of impactful and selfless governance, noting that the policy was implemented
despite its high financial cost.
While recalling their role in drafting the All Progressives
Congress, APC, manifesto in 2014, Osinbajo said one of the key debates was
around embedding a strong social investment programme, which eventually led to
initiatives like the national school feeding scheme, TraderMoni, among others.
The former vice president supports the view that a nation’s
greatness is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens.
He lamented the pervasive level of corruption on the
continent of Africa, emphasizing that the continent is not lacking in talent
but rather suffers from the underutilization of its human resources.
Osinbajo, while addressing the elite, issued a challenge for
self-reflection, urging them to consider whether their achievements were borne
out of genuine service to others.
He also called for better budget prioritization and fiscal
policies aimed at improving the lives of the nation’s most vulnerable
populations.
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