Former governor of Osun State, Bisi Akande, has revealed that former President Muhammadu Buhari wasn’t comfortable having his Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, go head-to-head with President Bola Tinubu for the sole presidential ticket at the 2022 primaries of the All Progressives Congress.
The pioneer national chairman of the APC disclosed this on a podcast anchored by a popular broadcaster, Edmund Obilo.
Akande recalled that the former VP did not step down for Tinubu, despite efforts to avoid bitterness among Yoruba contenders.
When asked if Buhari opposed Tinubu’s candidacy, Akande shook his head.
“He didn’t tell me so,” he said. “I asked him many questions, including whether he instigated 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 contest with him.”
In the build-up to the 2023 general elections, Tinubu polled 1,271 votes to clinch the party’s ticket.
The APC national leader defeated 13 other aspirants, including Osinbajo, to emerge as the APC flag-bearer at the end of the Special National Convention of the party in Abuja.
His other opponents included Rotimi Amaechi, ex-governor David Umuahi, Senator Ahmad Yarima, Dr Ahmed Lawal, ex-governor Yahaya Bello and the late Ogbonnaya Onu.
Others were Chukwuemeka Nwajuba, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Tein Jack-Rich and former Governor Ben Ayade.
The race began with 23 aspirants, but nine withdrew shortly before the commencement of voting at the convention.
They included Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohnenye, Dr Felix Nicholas, former Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, former Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, former Speaker Dimeji Bankole, Sen. Ajayi Boroffice, Gov. Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa, Senator Ken Nnamani and Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.
Akande however concluded by acknowledging Tinubu’s growth as a political strategist.
The former governor also touched on the relationship between Tinubu and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, revealing that he played a key role in Osinbajo’s nomination as vice president.
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He said, “In 2011, Tinubu was discussing with Buhari about replacing Bakare with someone. I told Tinubu, ‘I’m going to recommend Osinbajo, and I did.”