Former interim APC chairman, Bisi Akande, has opened up on some intrigues behind the selection of VP Osinbajo as Buhari’s running mate in 2015
Akande said Buhari had promised to make Tinubu his running mate but reneged on his promise but later asked the latter to recommend another running mate
The revelations are contained in Akande’s autobiography, “My Participations”, which was launched in Lagos on Thursday, December 9...CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Lagos, Nigeria – Former interim chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, on Thursday, December 9, narrated how President Muhammadu Buhari promised but failed to pick Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as his running mate in the 2015 election.
ThisDay reported that Akande who is also a former governor of Osun state made the revelation in his autobiography, “My Participations”, which was launched in Lagos on Thursday.
Chronicling the events that led to the eventual selection of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as the running mate, Akande disclosed how Buhari who was then under pressure to drop the former Lagos governor, later reneged on the agreement.
My Participations: APC Chieftain Bisi Akande Reveals Buhari’s Failed Promise to Tinubu in 2015 in New Book
APC chieftain Bisi Akande says in his autobiography, My Participations, that Buhari promised to pick Tinubu as running mate in 2015, then regened. Photo credit: Muhammadu Buhari
Akande stressed that despite the pledge to make Tinubu his vice presidential candidate, Buhari later faltered, saying that he only said that he wanted the former Lagos governor to “partner with him.”
Buhari under enormous pressure
The astute politician from Osun state admitted that at the time Buhari was under enormous pressure, especially from some northern governors who insisted that a Muslim-Muslim ticket arrangement was a no-go area.
He confirmed that Tinubu was instrumental to the emergence of Osinbajo as running mate to Buhari after he was formally dropped and asked to submit three names from the southwest from which Buhari would pick one.
President Buhari’s failed promise, according to Akande, made Tinubu angry and opted to leave Abuja for Lagos.
After some persuasion, Tinubu eventually suggested Professor Osinbajo as a preferred running mate.
2015: Oyinlola reveals how ex-president Obasanjo stopped Tinubu from becoming VP
In another account, a former governor of Osun state and ex-military administrator of Lagos state, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said Tinubu would have been Nigeria’s vice president in 2015 had ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo not advised the APC against it.
He said Obasanjo had explained that a Muslim-Muslim ticket would not have worked well to oust the government of his successor former president Goodluck Jonathan.
According to Oyinlola, Obasanjo was initially opposed to President Buhari’s return to power but he later gave in, only to hear about the combo of Buhari and Tinubu for the 2015 presidential race.
