Revealed: Why Buhari Withheld Support for Osinbajo’s Presidential Bid

Revealed: Why Buhari Withheld Support for Osinbajo’s Presidential Bid

Fresh insights from a new biography reveal why former President Muhammadu Buhari did not support the presidential ambition of his former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. The disclosure sheds light on the dynamics of the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential race and Buhari’s silence during the contest.

According to the book, From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, written by Dr. Charles Omole, Buhari reportedly declined to back Osinbajo because he had no personal relationship with him. The former president was quoted as saying, “I don’t know Osinbajo from anywhere, I met him only through President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

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The biography notes that Buhari was also reportedly surprised by Osinbajo’s decision to contest against Tinubu during the APC presidential primaries, which Tinubu eventually won to become the party’s candidate.

Osinbajo is widely seen as a political protégé of Tinubu, having served as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State during Tinubu’s governorship. He later became Buhari’s running mate in the 2015 general election, forming an eight-year federal administration.

Despite their years in government together, Buhari’s remarks suggest that his relationship with Osinbajo remained largely formal and politically arranged, rather than personal, explaining his decision to withhold support during the 2022 APC presidential contest.

The biography, recently presented at the Presidential Villa, offers a deeper look into Buhari’s political relationships and decision-making during his tenure and beyond.

Revealed: Why Buhari Withheld Support for Osinbajo’s Presidential Bid