Buhari’s govt sidelined Tinubu despite 2015 support — Akande

Former presidential aide Laolu Akande has alleged that President Bola Tinubu was marginalised within the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, despite his role in Buhari’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate in 2015.

Akande said he personally witnessed instances in which Tinubu was sidelined at party meetings, while some of his preferred ministerial nominees were reportedly rejected.

He made the claims during an interview on the Naija Unfiltered podcast, published by Symfoni TV 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 marginalised. I saw him with my korokoro eyes,” Akande said.

He added, “I sat in meetings where they put Bola Ahmed Tinubu behind me.”

Akande also alleged that some individuals Tinubu reportedly nominated for ministerial positions under Buhari were rejected in favour of other candidates.

“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 said, referring to current ministers Dele Alake and Wale Edun.

He did not provide further details about the alleged meetings or the circumstances surrounding the ministerial nominations.

Akande said Tinubu remained in the APC despite the alleged treatment, choosing to wait for an opportunity to pursue his presidential ambition rather than leave the party.

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

He also cited the controversy surrounding Buhari’s naira redesign policy ahead of the 2023 general election as part of the political challenges Tinubu faced before succeeding him.

Akande’s remarks come as political parties prepare for the 2027 general election, with opposition unity and internal party dynamics featuring prominently in political discussions.

The former presidential aide also urged opposition leaders to take responsibility for building a united front instead of attributing their difficulties solely to pressure from the ruling party.

He argued that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar should be willing to put aside his personal presidential ambition to facilitate cooperation among opposition parties.

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

He maintained that opposition leaders must be prepared to make personal sacrifices if they intend to build a viable alternative to the APC.

Akande’s allegations about Tinubu’s treatment during Buhari’s presidency were not independently verified, and the reported remarks did not include responses from the former president’s associates or other APC officials.