Buhari's greatest strength is his personality- Osinbajo

- Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said President Buhari made him take salary cut

- Osinbanjo revealed how he had to follow the president's exemplary steps after the president decided to take only half of his salary

- He praised the president for his frugality and honesty

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday, November 16, said he took a salary cut when he came into power and has been getting half his monthly salary since then.

Osinbajo said President Muhammadu Buhari's decision to receive half salary every month was what made him do the same

Osinbajo, who made this statement during the presentation of a book, “Making Steady, Sustainable Progress for Nigeria’s Peace and Prosperity” at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, praises the president's honesty and frugality, The Punch reports.

READ ALSO: Npower releases date for checking of results for 2017 applicants

He said: “Some things have not been included in the book and I might just supply some of that. One of such things is the exemplary frugality, the honesty and humility, and sense of humour of Mr. President.

“That frugality can sometimes be a problem. As you know, Mr. President decided that since government provides accommodation, food and transportation for the President and the Vice-President, we didn’t need a full salary.

“Now, how much is this salary by the way? It is public knowledge and I think it is N1, 750,000.00 or so, which is under N2m. He said he would take only half of his salary and so I had no choice but also to take half of my own salary.

“Unfortunately, Mr. President turned down my request, to give the other half to a worthy cause – his Vice-President. He didn’t consider me a more worthy cause to give half of his salary!

“In a country where politicians sometimes want to be as wealthy as Dangote, it is refreshing to have a President who most people won’t even dare to discuss any private benefit on a project with let alone a bribe or a kick-back.”

Osinbajo, while speaking on the president's humility and dedication to serving Nigeria said Buhari's character is his greatest strength.

He added: “Mr. President’s unassuming personality and humility, is in my view, probably his greatest strength. This is why he is never flattered, or carried away by praise or adulation.

“He has always said ‘I don’t pretend to know all the answers. I am here to provide stability and leadership, to a generation, a group of people, determined to run this country honestly, to provide jobs and prosperity to the poor, and our huge youth population.’

“I remember when he was on medical vacation, and I was speaking to him on the phone fairly regularly and giving him a rundown of what was going on, especially when he was on the first medical vacation. He said to me, ‘don’t worry about telling me all that is happening, I rely on your judgment keep doing your best, what if I drop dead?! You would have to run it anyway.’

“I had to say to him, that his dropping dead was not part of the plan.”

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 news app

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Professor Ango Abdullahi who is the national chairman of Northern Nigeria Union has said President Buhari should not expect an automatic ticket for 2019.

Professor Abdullahi spoke on Wednesday, November 15 at a news conference where he insisted that that the president must earn his ticket.

He said President Buhari has done well in outreach to all parts of Nigeria and that even though he got most of his votes from the northern region, he is still the president of the whole country.

Does the recent sack of Babachir Lawal confirm Buhari's fight against corruption? - On Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng