How Buhari’s government marginalised Tinubu despite 2015 contributions — Akande

Laolu Akande, former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to immediate past Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has alleged that President Bola Tinubu was marginalised within the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the eight-year administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

Akande claimed that Tinubu, despite his contributions to Buhari’s emergence as the APC presidential candidate in 2015, was sidelined at party meetings and excluded from some key political decisions.

He made the allegations during an interview on the Naija Unfiltered podcast, published by Symfoni TV on Friday.

The former presidential aide said he personally witnessed instances in which Tinubu was allegedly relegated to the background during meetings involving members of the ruling party.

“What did they not do against Bola Ahmed Tinubu? Tell me, what did they not do? Even between 2015 and 2023, the man was marginalised. I saw him with my korokoro eyes,” Akande said.

He added that he had attended meetings where Tinubu was allegedly made to sit behind him, suggesting that the then-former Lagos State governor was not accorded the political recognition he expected within the party.

Akande, however, did not identify the specific meetings or provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the alleged incidents. The claims could not be independently verified.

Tinubu’s alleged exclusion from party decisions

Akande further alleged that Tinubu experienced resistance from influential figures within the APC during Buhari’s administration, despite his role in the political coalition that brought the party to power in 2015.

He argued that the alleged treatment reflected tensions within the party over influence, appointments and the extent to which individual political leaders could shape decisions.

The former aide also claimed that some individuals reportedly nominated by Tinubu for ministerial positions under Buhari were rejected, with other candidates selected instead.

He cited the cases of Wale Edun and Dele Alake, both of whom later became prominent members of Tinubu’s administration.

“Alake was nominated; Edun was nominated. They went to choose the ones that he did not nominate to just make a point that you can’t dictate for us,” Akande said.

Edun currently serves as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, while Alake was appointed Minister of Solid Minerals Development under Tinubu.

Akande did not provide further details about the alleged nominations or identify the officials he claimed were responsible for the decisions.

His remarks suggest that disagreements over appointments were among the issues that allegedly contributed to Tinubu’s strained relationship with some elements of the APC leadership during Buhari’s presidency.

How Tinubu weathered political challenges

Despite the alleged marginalisation, Akande said Tinubu remained in the APC and continued to pursue his political ambitions rather than abandon the party.

According to him, Tinubu adopted a patient approach, waiting for an opportunity to secure the party’s presidential ticket and eventually succeed Buhari.

“He just waited. He bided his time,” Akande said.

Tinubu emerged as the APC’s presidential candidate in June 2022 after defeating several aspirants at the party’s primary election.

He subsequently won the February 2023 presidential election and was inaugurated as Nigeria’s president on May 29, 2023.

Akande also referred to the controversy surrounding the naira redesign policy introduced ahead of the 2023 general election as part of the political challenges Tinubu faced before becoming president.

The policy, implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria under Buhari, triggered widespread cash shortages and public protests, while several political leaders criticised its timing and implementation.

Tinubu publicly opposed aspects of the policy during the election campaign, and the dispute became part of the wider political tensions surrounding the 2023 elections.

Akande speaks on opposition’s chances in 2027

Beyond his account of Tinubu’s experience within the APC, Akande addressed the challenges facing opposition parties as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election.

He argued that opposition parties must develop the capacity to withstand pressure from the ruling party instead of attributing their difficulties entirely to alleged interference by the government.

Although he acknowledged that such political practices might be questionable, he maintained that opposition leaders needed to adopt effective strategies to remain competitive.

“I’m not saying it’s right, but this is how they have done it. So, if you are serious as opposition, you must be able to withstand it and rise to the top by doing what has become common sense,” he said.

His comments come amid discussions about the possibility of opposition parties forming alliances to challenge the APC in the next presidential election.

The debate has centred on how opposition figures could overcome internal disagreements, agree on a common candidate and mobilise support against the ruling party.

Atiku urged to prioritise opposition unity

Akande specifically called on former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to reconsider his presidential ambition and make concessions in the interest of building a united opposition.

He argued that Atiku, who has contested the presidency several times, should be prepared to step aside if doing so would improve the opposition’s chances of defeating the APC in 2027.

“I think it is ego. So, the person that ought to make the move here is Atiku,” Akande said.

The former presidential aide suggested that personal ambition should not take precedence over the broader objective of establishing a credible political alternative to the ruling party.

According to him, opposition leaders must be willing to compromise and resolve their differences if they hope to present a formidable challenge to Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Atiku contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party but finished behind Tinubu, who won the poll, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

The former vice-president has remained a prominent figure in discussions about opposition realignment ahead of the 2027 elections.

Akande’s comments therefore place two related political questions at the centre of the debate: the internal power struggles that allegedly shaped the APC during Buhari’s presidency and the willingness of opposition leaders to put aside individual ambitions to challenge the party in the next general election.

However, Akande’s allegations about Tinubu’s treatment within the APC remain his personal account, as he did not provide specific evidence or details that could independently establish the circumstances he described.