A former Special Adviser to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu, has claimed that Buhari did not support the presidential ambitions of his then Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, or current President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite their political alliance.
Speaking on Edmund Obilo’s State Affairs podcast on Monday, Ojudu disclosed that Tinubu’s eventual victory in the All Progressives Congress primary was due to his ability to “outmaneuver” Buhari, who allegedly withheld support for both candidates.
Ojudu, who served under Vice President Osinbajo, revealed that Buhari’s reluctance to rally his political team behind Osinbajo was a major setback for the former vice president’s presidential bid.
“I knew Osinbajo was going to lose the primary; I saw it coming,” he said. “Because of the system we operated and still operate, I kept saying at our meeting that all of the efforts we are making—like traveling around, convincing people, and addressing delegates—is only 40 percent.
“60 percent of it lies in Buhari’s hands. Unless and until Buhari mobilizes people around him—the governors, his aides—we are going nowhere. I used to refer to Buhari as a one-man majority, and he never mobilized his team towards Osinbajo. I think Tinubu outsmarted him in so many different ways.”
Ojudu lamented Osinbajo’s defeat, describing it as a missed opportunity for Nigeria to have a leader of the caliber of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
“I supported Osinbajo to be president. I was convinced because, having seen him up close, the way he worked, his philosophy, his breadth of knowledge, and the kind of patriotic verve in him—I just think that he was the best person at that time to govern Nigeria,” Ojudu explained.
“Osinbajo would have been good for this country. For me, it is like losing Awolowo for a second time because he was at Awolowo’s level in terms of capacity, ability, dedication, and commitment.”
Reflecting on the APC primary ahead of the 2023 general elections, Ojudu noted that Tinubu’s strategic approach secured his victory.
During the primary, Tinubu garnered 1,271 votes to clinch the APC ticket, while former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi received 316 votes. Osinbajo placed third with 235 votes, followed by Senate President Ahmed Lawan, who obtained 152 votes.
Ojudu’s statements highlight the internal dynamics and power struggles within the APC leading up to the 2023 presidential election, offering insight into Buhari’s role—or lack thereof—in shaping the party’s leadership trajectory.
