Laolu Akande, former media aide to ex-Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, has alleged that influential figures in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari worked against Bola Tinubu’s political ambition before he secured the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket in 2022.
Akande made the allegation during an interview with Symfoni TV published on Friday, where he reflected on political developments during Buhari’s eight-year tenure.
According to him, some powerful figures within the former administration wanted Buhari to support then-Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the APC’s preferred successor.
Akande said the group sought to have Lawan emerge as the party’s consensus candidate ahead of the 2022 presidential primary.
“The cabal had a different plan. They wanted the president [Buhari] to support Ahmad Lawan. That is the fact,” he said.
In June 2022, then-APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu announced Lawan as the party’s consensus presidential candidate. The announcement, however, was opposed by party members who insisted that the presidential flagbearer should be chosen through a competitive primary.
Tinubu eventually defeated Lawan, Osinbajo, former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi and other aspirants to win the APC ticket.
Akande also alleged that Tinubu was sidelined during Buhari’s administration despite his contributions to the formation and electoral success of the APC.
“What did they not do against President Tinubu? Tell me. Between 2015 and 2023? The man was marginalised. I saw it with my own eyes,” he said.
The former presidential aide claimed he witnessed occasions when Tinubu was excluded from important meetings during Buhari’s presidency.
He said Tinubu remained patient despite the alleged treatment as he continued pursuing his ambition to become Nigeria’s president.
Akande also pointed to the naira redesign policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria shortly before the 2023 general election, arguing that it created additional difficulties for Tinubu’s presidential campaign.
He further alleged that the Buhari administration rejected some of Tinubu’s preferred ministerial nominees, including Dele Alake and Wale Edun.
According to Akande, the decisions were intended to demonstrate that Tinubu could not dictate who would serve in Buhari’s government, despite his political influence.
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