So, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, wife of the vice presidential candidate of the All
Progressive Congress party, Yemi Osinbajo had this recent interview with the Nation newspaper and we enjoyed it. She talked about how she felt
when he initially announced his involvement with Buhari, what she loves about him and more.
See excerpts below:
Her initial reaction when she heard that her husband was going to
be nominated as All Progressives Congress (APC) vice presidential
candidate, she said “My initial reaction was that of apprehension.
Because I knew I would have to share him with others, I mean political
associates, official functions and all the likes. And I would rather
have him to myself alone. So, that was my initial reaction.
Overcoming the apprehension “I guess I realized that the
handwriting was always on the wall; that this was what he is being
prepared for. If you look at what he has done over the years, you will
realize that the Lord was preparing him for a time like that. I realized
and remembered that. That put my fears aside and I told myself I had to
allow the Lord do what He wants to do with him.
I shouldn’t be selfish but release him to accomplish for Nigeria
what God has been putting in his heart. His works, like I said, over the
years and his experiences in public life have all pointed to the fact
that he is a man for a season like this.
Reaction to the ongoing APC campaigns for the February elections “Comfortable
is not a word you can use at this point, considering what the nation is
right now. But in terms of the campaign, yes, things are being done in a
noble way. Things are different from what they used to be in the past. I
believe that things will take a turn for the best for this nation.
Her opinion of her husband and being able to carry out the Vice
Presidential role “I don’t think I am in the best position to answer
that (laughter). But I think he is the best man in the whole world. One
thing I can say is that we have been married for the past 25 years and
every day, I get to respect him the more. He is very kind and lovely. I
have never met a man more caring than he is. He is the most caring
person I have met.
Well, I will just say he is a lovely and kind man. He loves to a
fault. He cares a lot. His life is all about caring and giving. When he
was Attorney-General of Lagos, he proved that over and over again. Our
church currently runs two free schools through his initiatives because
we are interested in people.
One has run for a year and the other one just started. In the
school, there is no tuition, registration or any fee. They are entirely
free. They don’t pay for books, stationeries, uniforms or feeding. One
of the schools is in Obanikoro, while the other is in Okota in Lagos.
We also run a soup kitchen in the church that we run now and the one we ran before. The
soup kitchen provides food for the students every day. No child gets to
the schools except he or she is poor. So, these are some of the many
things he does for people to show his love.
I believe if he is elected, he will have more opportunities and platform to do much more for the people.
On how she is preparing for life as a public figure despite her private life “Honestly,
I can’t tell. There is nothing I am doing or intend to do. I just trust
God for grace. I am in His hands and I believe He won’t take me there
and leave me stranded. I am just in His hands for whatever He wants to
do with me.
She believe he will win this election “I believe so with all of
my heart. Yes, not minding that he is contesting against the incumbents.
I believe change is coming and Nigerians will witness it through the
APC.
What her typical average day is like: “I don’t have an average
day because what I want to do determines how the day runs. I have now
two shelters for battered women and victims of sexual abuses. One is on
the Island and the other on the Mainland.
It is a non-governmental organization called Women’s Helping
Hands and we get to hear heart-breaking stories. One is that of a woman
whose husband held down and battered with hot iron. She was so scary
when we saw her.”