A founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, has revealed that former President Muhammadu Buhari personally assured him he never encouraged then-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to contest against Bola Tinubu in the party’s 2022 presidential primary.
Tinubu ultimately emerged victorious as the APC flagbearer, while Osinbajo finished a distant third.
Osinbajo, widely regarded as Tinubu’s political protégé, had served as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General during Tinubu’s tenure as Lagos State governor.
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Many also believe Tinubu played a key role in Osinbajo’s selection as Buhari’s running mate in 2015.
Speaking on Edmund Obilo’s podcast, State Affairs, Akande emphasised that he encouraged all aspirants to contest freely but without bitterness.
“I wanted everybody to be free to contest the election but I don’t want bitterness… I wanted a Yoruba President,” he said.
Akande disclosed efforts to persuade aspirants to step down voluntarily for unity.
“After several meetings, I told them we want only one and I want any of you to voluntarily step down,” he recounted.
While some withdrew on the eve of the primary, Osinbajo did not. Akande stressed: “Osinbajo has every right to contest and he did, and I don’t blame anybody for contesting elections.”
Addressing speculation about Buhari’s stance, Akande said the former president explicitly denied instigating Osinbajo.
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“He wanted me to see that he was not the one who instigated Osinbajo to contest against Tinubu,” Akande recalled.
Buhari reportedly told him that, in his culture, one does not challenge a mentor for the same position, adding that he was surprised by Osinbajo’s ambition but wished him well.
Akande’s account contrasts with claims in the biography ‘From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammad Buhari’ by Dr Charles Omole, which quotes Buhari as saying he never supported Osinbajo’s bid because he only knew the former vice president through Tinubu.
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