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.
