Buhari Offered to Back Osinbajo’s Presidential Bid Four Times, Akande Counters Babachir Lawal

Former President Muhammadu Buhari offered to support former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo’s 2022 presidential ambition on at least four occasions, former presidential spokesman Laolu Akande has said, dismissing claims that Buhari considered Osinbajo’s decision to challenge President Bola Tinubu immoral.

Akande made the clarification in a statement issued on Saturday titled, “A Response to Mr Babachir Lawal’s Falsehoods Against Prof. Yemi Osinbajo,” in response to comments by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.

Lawal had claimed that Buhari would have considered it distasteful for Osinbajo to contest against Tinubu, who played a significant role in his emergence as vice-president in 2015.

According to Lawal, Buhari attached great importance to loyalty and would likely have viewed Osinbajo’s presidential ambition as a betrayal of the politician who helped bring him into national politics.

However, Akande disputed the assertion, insisting that Buhari’s statements and conduct demonstrated that he supported Osinbajo’s right to seek the All Progressives Congress presidential ticket.

“On at least four separate occasions, President Buhari personally offered to support the Vice President, telling him plainly: ‘If I don’t support you, who will I support?’” Akande said.

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He also recalled a Federal Executive Council meeting in 2022, during which Buhari reportedly praised Osinbajo for the manner in which he campaigned for the APC presidential ticket.

According to Akande, the former president commended Osinbajo’s dignified and issue-based campaign across the country while the party’s presidential contest was underway.

“He spoke in a laudatory tone. The entire Council witnessed it,” he said.

Akande added, “That is not a President who found Osinbajo’s ambition distasteful. That is a President who broached it, encouraged and applauded it.”

The former spokesperson maintained that his experience working in the Office of the Vice-President gave him firsthand knowledge of the relationship between Buhari and Osinbajo.

He urged the public to assess Lawal’s claims against the events witnessed by those who served in the administration.

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Lawal had acknowledged that he did not discuss Buhari’s alleged reservations about Osinbajo’s ambition directly with the former president. He said his conclusion was based on Buhari’s character, actions and body language.

Akande also rejected Lawal’s separate allegations that Osinbajo’s appointments were influenced by ethnic and religious considerations, describing the claims as fabrications.

He further maintained that Osinbajo remained loyal to Buhari throughout their eight years in office, adding that his administration operated with an inclusive team that reflected Nigeria’s diversity.

“Prof. Osinbajo served President Buhari loyally for eight years, without blemish, with an inclusive team that reflected the best of Nigeria,” Akande said.

“The records are there for anyone who cares to check.”

Osinbajo served as vice-president between 2015 and 2023 and contested the APC presidential ticket in 2022. Tinubu defeated other aspirants to win the party’s primary before going on to win the 2023 presidential election.

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