Buhari's Government Left Tinubu Out, Former Aide

The former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu was left out of the All Progressives Congress during the time of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

Akande said he saw moments when Tinubu was pushed aside during party meetings.

He mentioned that Tinubu faced this treatment even after he helped Buhari become the APC presidential candidate in 2015.

Akande made these comments on the Naija Unfiltered podcast in an interview that Symfoni TV published on Friday.

"What did they not do against Bola Ahmed Tinubu? Tell me, what did they not do? Even between 2015 and 2023, the man was pushed aside. I saw him with my own eyes," Akande said.

He also said, "I sat in meetings where they put Bola Ahmed Tinubu behind me."

Akande’s claims have not been verified independently.

He did not give specifics about the meetings or the situations where Tinubu was pushed aside.

He also claimed that some people Tinubu nominated for ministerial roles during Buhari’s time were turned down. He said other candidates were chosen to reduce his influence.

"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," he explained.

Akande did not share more details about the nomination process or name the officials he claimed made those decisions.

His comments were part of his view on the political relationship between Tinubu and the APC leadership during Buhari’s eight years as president.

Akande noted that Tinubu did not leave the party despite the alleged treatment. He stayed active and waited for the right moment to pursue his presidential ambition.

"He just waited. He bided his time," Akande said.

He also mentioned the naira redesign policy controversy before the 2023 general election as another challenge Tinubu faced before taking over from Buhari.

Akande’s remarks come as political parties and their leaders prepare for the 2027 general election. Questions about party loyalty, power relations, and the strength of the opposition are key topics in political talks.

The former aide also said that opposition parties should be strong enough to handle pressure from the ruling party. He urged them not to blame their problems only on government interference.

"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.

On the chances of the opposition in the 2027 elections, Akande advised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to set aside his personal goals to help unite opposition parties.

He said Atiku should be willing to make sacrifices if the opposition wants to challenge the ruling APC effectively.

"I think it is ego. So, the person that ought to make the move here is Atiku," Akande said during the interview.

He suggested that Atiku should be ready to step aside from his presidential ambition for a stronger opposition alliance, arguing that personal ambition should not come before building a real alternative to the ruling party.