The Hausa community in Oyo state has backed Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) for president.

The members gave the endorsement on the sidelines of a three-in-one programme in honour of a former governor of Oyo State, the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

The events include the commissioning of Senator Abiola Ajimobi Resource Centre, fourth Senator Abiola Ajimobi Roundtable titled: ”Election Security and Good Governance” and his 72nd posthumous birthday.

The event was held at the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies (IPSS), University of Ibadan.

Osinbajo chaired the event and commissioned the resource centre.

While the programme was ongoing, scores of Hausa community members, led by Alhaji Yahaya Alli, stormed the venue. Holding a large digital banner accompanied by local Hausa entertainers, they voiced their support for Osinbajo to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

Alli said: “Though I am an Hausa man, I have been part and parcel of the Yoruba because I was born and bred here. So, I am more Yoruba than Hausa. I can’t express my happiness enough today because I was fortunate to be part and parcel of this gathering. I am here on behalf of Arewa Community in Oyo state, being their leader.”

“His Excellency, Vice President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, is a man of honour. He is a man of integrity. And he is a man that can be reckoned with. He is a trustworthy man and he is a man that we can hand over the affairs of our country into his hands.”

“We have seen what he has done for the past seven and half years. He can do it.”

“If you look at what happened between him and his principal, who is President Muhammadu Buhari, there is a kind of trust between them like twin brothers, to the extent that whenever Baba Buhari is going outside the country for a long time, he always hands over the power to him.”

“So, I believe that Prof Osinbajo is a kind of person that we can easily trust and that we can easily hand over power to, come 2023 by God’s grace. I know God will take over.”

“On behalf of Hausa community in Oyo state, and on behalf of Sarkin Sabo of Ibadanland, we are together with Prof Osinbajo.”

Osinbajo is yet to announce whether he will run for president in 2023.