Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has come out to say that engagement with the Nigerian youths must be transparent and honest if we want a progressive Nigeria.

Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande revealed this in a recent statement in Abuja and Nigerians has been reacting.

According to him, the current government is making a difference and Buhari has done all he can to carry the youths along at all times.

He added that when the people know they count, trust is easier and development will be quicker as well.

His words, “The first problem was everybody wanted a slot. I resisted it. Why? If I do that, we will destroy the programmes because majority of Nigerians don’t know people who will take the slots.

“It was not that one was being purist, but if young people can’t get the benefit except they know someone then we have failed the young people.

“One day, the President called me that he was listening to BBC Hausa Service and he heard two young men-beneficiaries of N-Power – saying they didn’t know anybody but were being paid the N30,000 monthly stipends.

“The President said that is what shows we are making a difference; and everywhere we went during the 2019 campaigns, we had these young people organising themselves coming out supporting us.

“If people know they count, then they can trust us and they won’t destroy because they have a stake. Otherwise, people will never trust us,”

“We appreciate the messages you sent to the youth during the protests. It doused tensions. You did the job of John the Baptist for the President ahead of his speech to the nation.”

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Oluyemi Oluleke “Yemi” Osinbajo SAN, GCON (born 8 March, 1957) is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who is the currently serving as the Vice President of Nigeria, in office since 29 May 2015.

Yemi Osinbajo was born into the family of Opeoluwa Osinbajo on 8 March 1957, Creek Hospital, Lagos. Osinbajo is married to Dolapo (née Soyode) Osinbajo, a granddaughter of Obafemi Awolowo. They have three children – two daughters, Damilola, Kanyinsola and a son, Fiyinfoluwa Osinbajo.

Yemi Osinbajo is the Pastor in charge of the Lagos Province 48 (Olive Tree provincial headquarters) of The Redeemed Christian Church of God.

On 31 March 2015 Buhari was confirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the presidential elections. Thus Osinbajo became the Vice President-elect of Nigeria. They were both sworn in on 29 May 2015. On 17 August 2017 VP Yemi Osibanjo described hate speech as a species of terrorism.