Difference between President, Vice is like light and darkness – Osinbajo’s ex-aide exposes Villa
Laolu Akande, a former spokesman for ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, remarked that the dynamic between a president and vice president is akin to “light and darkness.” His comments came during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, where he discussed the operational differences in the presidency based on his experience as a media aide to Osinbajo.
Akande explained that many Nigerians may not fully grasp the contrasting roles of the president and the vice president. He emphasized that while the president has the authority to make final decisions, the vice president primarily serves in an advisory capacity.
“The difference between the President and the Vice is light and darkness. The President has the power, the Vice does not,” Akande stated.
Further elaborating on his tenure under former President Muhammadu Buhari, Akande acknowledged that Osinbajo frequently presented new ideas, although not all were implemented. He pointed out that the structure of the government and the constitution grant substantial power to the president, limiting the vice president’s influence.
He noted that criticism directed at Osinbajo during his time in office stemmed from a misunderstanding of the role’s limitations. “People who were attacking Osinbajo did not understand that he could not overrule Buhari,” Akande said, drawing a parallel to the current administration, where he suggested that Vice President Kashim Shettima can offer advice, but ultimately, President Bola Tinubu makes the decisions.
Akande urged Nigerians to refrain from blaming vice presidents for the actions of their counterparts, stressing that the divide in authority between them is significant.
