- Chief Bisi Akande discusses the political rift between Tinubu and Osinbajo, emphasizing the strain from their APC primary contest
- Akande denies claims of Buhari opposing Tinubu’s candidacy, asserting that Osinbajo’s challenge was not encouraged by the former president
Chief Bisi Akande, former governor of Osun State, has addressed the reported political rift between President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Ahead of the 2023 elections, Osinbajo contested the APC primary alongside Tinubu and other party leaders.
His decision reportedly strained his relationship with Tinubu, under whom he previously served as a commissioner during Tinubu’s tenure as Lagos State governor.
The situation also divided Tinubu’s supporters, with figures like former Senator Babafemi Ojudu backing Osinbajo.
In an interview with media personality Edmund Obilo, Akande revealed that he had recommended Osinbajo when Tinubu searched for a replacement for Pastor Tunde Bakare.
Bakare had been Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate under the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) in 2011. Four years later, Buhari won the presidency with Osinbajo as his running mate.
When asked if Buhari opposed Tinubu’s candidacy, Akande denied it.
“He didn’t tell me so. I asked him many questions, including whether he encouraged Osinbajo to contest against Tinubu. He said no and explained that, in his culture, when your mentor is interested in a position, you don’t challenge him,” Akande said.
Osinbajo and Tinubu recently met at an Energy Summit in Tanzania, exchanging pleasantries and posing for photographs. This marked their first public interaction since Tinubu’s election in 2023.
Discussion about this post