There's almost nothing vice president Yemi Osinbajo does or says of late, that doesn't result in needless controversies. However, while you may feel for the vice president in these trying times, he isn't all that innocent himself, as he is not only regarded as the vice president of Nigeria, but also a representative of the Yoruba people and more importantly, Christians in the country.
The vice president has been criticized for not doing enough to defend the interests of Christians in the country amidst waves of persecution and acts of terrors meted against Christians in the predominantly Muslim North. The vice president has to the annoyance of many, consistently insists that the Buhari administration despite the travails of Christians in the North, has no secret agenda against Christianity in the country.
While still in the black books of some Nigerians, the vice president's recent statement at a General Assembly of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has once again generated outrage when he said, "President Muhammadu Buhari is gracious enough to allow us to have Christian worship behind his kitchen".
One of his top critics who happens to be his fellow Yoruba from the South West, reacted by saying this is a "Slave-man talking!"
Fani Kayode who wonders whether or not the vice president is the same person he knew four decades ago, said Osinbajo 'has lost all sense of shame', and keeps doing everything possible to destroy whatever little 'self-respect' and 'dignity' he has left.
Kayode wrote, "He (Osinbajo) says Christians are "graciously allowed" to worship behind Buhari's kitchen and we should be grateful?
"The next thing he will say is that Buhari has "graciously allowed" Christians to sing hymns and pray behind his toilet and that we should be "grateful" for that too!
"Did someone say this man is a Professor of Law, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a Pastor? Is this the real Yemi Osinbajo that I have known for forty years or is it the fake one from Bujumbura?"
Osinbajo may feel aggrieved that his statement has been misrepresented, since he was speaking on the need for leaders in the country to imbibe the spirit of tolerance.
The vice president in his speech, said unless the country has leaders like Imam Abdullahi of Plateau State who not only refused to give up the Christians he had given refuge, but was also ready to offer his own life in exchange for theirs, drums of war will continue to rent the air.
