By the time Bola Ahmed Tinubu ascended to the presidency, many believed it was the culmination of a lifelong ambition—an inevitability rather than a decision.
But according to Bisi Akande, former governor of Osun State and a close political ally, Tinubu had deep reservations about running. It took persistent persuasion, an appeal to Yoruba tradition, and a belief in destiny to change his mind.
In a revealing interview on State Affairs with Edmund Obilo, published on YouTube on Wednesday, Akande claimed that Tinubu was initially hesitant, citing financial constraints and personal doubts.
“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. It was a surprising admission from a man widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most formidable political figures.
But it wasn’t just about money. Tinubu, according to Akande, actively resisted discussions about his candidacy. “People called me and said, ‘Come, there is trouble. Anybody that talks to him about the presidency, he quarrels with them,’” Akande said. Concerned, the elder statesman traveled to Lagos for a personal intervention.
When words of encouragement failed, Akande turned to tradition. He framed Tinubu’s candidacy not as a personal ambition but as a necessary sacrifice for the Yoruba people.
“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.’”
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The approach stunned Tinubu. “He was looking at me as if I was sick or something,” Akande recounted. But it planted a seed of possibility.
Still, Tinubu hesitated. “Baba, you now say I should run. What about this, my leg?” he asked, referring to his known health challenges. Akande was unwavering. “Go and do it. There is still time. You will heal in six months.”
Even after Tinubu finally embraced the idea of running, the road ahead was fraught with challenges. Akande claimed that the #EndSARS protests were part of a larger effort to end Tinubu’s political career.
“#EndSARS was designed to be the end of Tinubu,” he alleged. When asked who orchestrated it, he pointed fingers at the Obidient movement. “The Obidients were behind #EndSARS. It was manufactured from America and brought in just to stop him.”
Akande quickly clarified that he was not referring to Peter Obi directly, but rather to a movement that, in his view, emerged from the protests and later attempted to form a political party.
Akande also shed light on the complex political maneuvering behind Tinubu’s rise. He revealed that he played a key role in Yemi Osinbajo’s selection as vice president in 2015.
“In 2011, Tinubu was discussing with Buhari about replacing Pastor Tunde Bakare as running mate. I told Tinubu, ‘I’m going to recommend Osinbajo,’ and I did.”
However, that alliance was later tested. During the 2022 presidential primaries, Osinbajo refused to step down for Tinubu, despite efforts to prevent internal discord among Yoruba candidates.
When asked if former President Muhammadu Buhari opposed Tinubu’s candidacy, Akande dismissed the speculation. “He didn’t tell me so,” he said. “I asked him many questions, including whether he instigated Osinbajo to contest against Tinubu. He said no and explained that, in his culture, when your mentor is interested in a position, you don’t contest with him.”
Akande ended with a candid reflection on Tinubu’s evolution as a political strategist.
“He may have known a lot about the politics of Lagos and America, but he was very ignorant about the politics of Nigeria. Now that he is president, I don’t know how much he has learned.”
It’s a striking statement, suggesting that even the most powerful leaders remain, at their core, students of politics—shaped not just by their ambitions but by the forces, allies, and histories that push them forward.
