Businessmen for Osinbajo (BFO) on Wednesday gathered in Abuja to officially launch the platform as a first major step to changing the Nigerian narrative.
BFO is an independent group of volunteers from every sector and size of business, across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Their mandate is to deliver Professor Oluyemi Osinbajo as President come 2023 as the right leader for the business community.
The convener of BFO Dr. Tayo Fashogbon said,
“I stand here to welcome you on this journey towards an elevated Nigeria.
“This elevation will be brought about by a more intentional participation of the business community in the democracy of Nigeria. “Until now, the business community, with all its great contributions, has only remained on the fringes of political relevance.
“This has continued to limit our capacity to influence the ease and outcomes of doing business.
According to him, the Vice President has demonstrated passion for strengthening the economy by improving the ease of doing business at all levels.
“We have seen, from his esteemed role as Vice President, in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, how he has strongly stood for the business community.
“He has displayed his prowess through policy innovations, uncommon leadership of critical government interests, coordination of the economy, enhancement of quality of governance and an unwavering commitment to levelling the playing field.
“For these reasons and more, we are actively and intentionally focused on him to be the incoming President, come 2023.
He expressed the optimism that at the appropriate time, he will yield to the clarion call.
He called on Business Men and Women all over Nigeria, to get to work
The co-convener for the Businessmen For Osinbajo Olatunji David said the platform was born out of the fact that businessmen also need a good leader for their businesses to thrive.
“Policies that are made by Government affect the economic activities of the country and we have seen that among those who have shown interest to run for the presidency Osinbajo stands out.
“We have seen his consistency when it comes to economic policies. Nigeria is at a teething time trying to evolve in infrastructure because there has been infrastructural deficit. “Nobody will tell you h is not aware of what the Government is doing when it comes to infrastructure, we might not feel the impact now but I can tell you that Government is doing a lot when it comes to rail and it cuts across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
“We have the second Niger bridge, we have the rail line coming from Ibadan to Lagos, Kano to Kaduna, last week the vice president was in Bayelsa to commission a project.
“So we said well this is a man who has been at the saddle of activities with the President and we felt we should not allow any hawk to just come, we do not want to do trial and error again when it comes leadership in Nigeria.
“We need trusted hand not trial and error again who will plunge the country into chaos
Another Nigeria who said is a friend of the family of the convener
Mrs Iriti Aborishade said the youths are really yearning for a better and greater Nigeria saying he is quite sure with Professor Osinbajo on board the youths would have a backup to rest on that would put Nigeria ahead for a better future
“If you check his antecedents you will quite be reassured.”