Former governor of Osun State and a close political ally of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Bisi Akande, revealed that Tinubu was initially reluctant to run for the presidency, despite widespread belief that it was the culmination of his long-held ambition.
In an interview on the State Affairs program with Edmund Obilo, published on YouTube on Wednesday, Akande explained that it took persistent persuasion, appeals to Yoruba tradition, and a belief in destiny to convince Tinubu to seek the nation’s highest office.
Akande shared that Tinubu had significant reservations about running, citing financial constraints and personal doubts about his ability to compete. Despite his status as one of Nigeria’s most influential political figures, Tinubu admitted to Akande that he lacked the financial resources typically associated with presidential campaigns.
Akande further explained that Tinubu initially resisted discussions about his candidacy, even avoiding conversations about it altogether. Concerned about the situation, Akande traveled to Lagos to personally intervene, but his initial encouragements were unsuccessful. He then turned to Yoruba tradition, framing the candidacy not as a personal ambition but as a necessary sacrifice for the Yoruba people.
Akande’s appeal emphasized that Tinubu’s potential presidency was not for his own benefit but for the larger cause of the Yoruba people. While initially stunned by this argument, Tinubu began to reconsider the idea. Akande reassured him that despite his health concerns, there was still time to run, and he would recover within six months.
Once Tinubu accepted the idea of running, the path ahead was not without obstacles. Akande suggested that the #EndSARS protests were part of a broader effort to end Tinubu’s political career, claiming that the Obidient movement was behind the protests. He clarified, however, that he was not directly accusing Peter Obi of orchestrating the protests, but rather pointing to the movement that emerged from it and later sought to form a political party.
Akande also reflected on the political maneuvering behind Tinubu’s rise, particularly the role he played in the selection of Yemi Osinbajo as vice president in 2015. He revealed that in 2011, Tinubu had discussed replacing Pastor Tunde Bakare as a running mate for Muhammadu Buhari, and Akande had recommended Osinbajo for the position.
However, during the 2022 presidential primaries, the relationship between Tinubu and Osinbajo became strained, with Osinbajo refusing to step down for Tinubu despite efforts to avoid discord among Yoruba candidates.
Regarding speculation that former President Muhammadu Buhari opposed Tinubu’s candidacy, Akande dismissed such claims, stating that Buhari never expressed any opposition. He noted that Buhari explained that in his culture, one does not contest against a mentor who is pursuing a political position.
Akande offered a candid reflection on Tinubu’s development as a political strategist. While acknowledging Tinubu’s expertise in Lagos and international politics, Akande suggested that he was initially unfamiliar with the complexities of Nigerian politics. Now that Tinubu is president, Akande questioned how much he has learned, highlighting the ongoing challenges that even the most powerful leaders face in understanding and navigating the political landscape.
“When I met him, he said, ‘Baba, do you have money? If I had the kind of money people have to be president, I would rank with Dangote,’” Akande recalled.
“People called me and said, ‘Come, there is trouble. Anybody that talks to him about the presidency, he quarrels with them,’” Akande said.
He continued, “I told him, ‘We don’t want you to be president because of you. You are unimportant in this matter. But in Yoruba tradition, when you want to worship the deity, you take the fattest animal or the biggest yam to worship. Yoruba wants to be president, and you are the one we have now. It is to sacrifice you so that we can have a president, not for you to be anything.’”
