Former Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, has finally spoken out on the rumoured political rift between Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
During the buildup to the 2023 elections, Osinbajo, who was then Vice President, contested the APC presidential primary against Tinubu and other party chieftains. His decision to run reportedly strained his relationship with Tinubu, under whom he had served as a commissioner during Tinubu’s eight-year tenure as Lagos State governor.
The fallout also created divisions within Tinubu’s political camp, with some allies, including former Senator Babafemi Ojudu, throwing their support behind Osinbajo.
In an interview with media personality Edmund Obilo, Akande revealed that he was the one who recommended Osinbajo when Tinubu sought 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 ran with Osinbajo and won the presidency.
When asked whether Buhari had opposed Tinubu’s candidacy, Akande simply replied, “No.”
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“He didn’t tell me so. 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.”
Osinbajo and Tinubu crossed paths at an Energy Summit in Tanzania earlier this week. The two exchanged pleasantries and posed for photographs, marking what appeared to be their first public meeting since Tinubu’s election in 2023.
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