According to 9jalead Official, A founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, has revealed that former President Muhammadu Buhari never opposed the emergence of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President. He also dismissed speculations that Buhari encouraged former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to contest against Tinubu in the 2022 APC presidential primaries....CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING.>>
Akande made these remarks during an interview on Edmund Obilo’s Podcast, “State Affairs,” where he discussed key events surrounding the 2023 general elections and the internal politics of the ruling party.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Osinbajo, widely regarded as Tinubu’s political godson, contested for the APC presidential ticket in 2022 but lost to his former boss. Before becoming Vice President, Osinbajo was nominated for the role by Tinubu and had previously served as the Attorney General of Lagos State under Tinubu’s administration, despite hailing from Ogun State.
During the build-up to the APC presidential primaries, there were reports of a political rift between Tinubu and Osinbajo due to the latter’s decision to contest. However, Akande debunked claims that Buhari had any role in encouraging Osinbajo’s candidacy**.
“He (Buhari) didn’t tell me so. I asked him many questions, including whether he instigated Osinbajo to contest against Tinubu,” Akande stated.
He went on to quote Buhari’s response, which emphasized respect for mentorship and loyalty in political culture.
“He (Buhari) said no and explained that, in his culture, when your mentor is interested in a position, you don’t contest with him.”
Akande also disclosed that he personally recommended Osinbajo as Vice Presidential candidate to Buhari in 2015, reinforcing the close political ties between Tinubu, Osinbajo, and the APC leadership at the time.
This revelation sheds light on the internal dynamics of the APC and Buhari’s neutrality in the primaries, countering narratives that the former president played a role in the political face-off between Tinubu and Osinbajo.
With Tinubu now serving as Nigeria’s President, the comments by Akande provide a clearer perspective on the power struggles and alliances within the APC, as the party continues to navigate governance and political positioning ahead of future elections.
