Osinbajo voted Nigerian Man of the Year in recent Sahara Reporters online poll

VICE president Professor Yemi Osinbajo has been voted as the Nigerian Man of the Year in a poll conducted by news outlet Sahara Reporters receiving 41% of the votes cast by respondents.

In the poll thrown open to Sahara Reporters readers, which attracted 3,625 votes cast, Professor Osinbajo was the overwhelming favourite, with the late Lt Col Muhammad Abu Ali coming second with 27%. A highly decorated soldier who paid the supreme sacrifice while on duty with the Nigerian Army, Lt Col Ali died in a gun battle with Boko Haram terrorists earlier this year.

Professor Osinbajo became the toast of the nation when he stood in for President Buhari as acting president for a total of over three months in while the president was in London receiving medical treatment. During his time as acting president, Professor Osinbajo managed to help turn the Nigerian economy around and was very visible, visiting numerous states across the country.

He also signed three executive orders, inaugurating the board of directors of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority and directed the expansion of the Social Investment Programmes. Among other thing, he also attended the G7 summit where he met with US president Donald Trump and other world leaders.

Nigerians have widely praised Professor Osinbajo for his role in ending militancy in the Niger delta by visiting the region and his diplomatic handling of the country's numerous ethnic spats. President Buhari himself has praised his deputy for his loyalty and not trying to usurp his position while he was away.

In the Sahara Reporters poll, entertainer Daddy Freeze, who recently criticised rich clergymen came third with 17% of the vote, while Indigenous People of Biafra leader Nnamdi Kanu came fourth with 15%. Conducted online, the poll attracted votes from both in Nigeria and from the diaspora.