Former Osun State Governor Bisi Akande has disclosed how he convinced President Bola Tinubu to contest, despite Tinubu’s initial reluctance

[dropcap]F[/dropcap]ormer Osun State Governor Bisi Akande has revealed that he played a key role in convincing President Bola Tinubu to run for Nigeria’s highest office.

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In a recent interview on State Affairs with Edmund Obilo, Akande shared insights into Tinubu’s initial reluctance, citing financial constraints and personal doubts.

According to Akande, Tinubu was hesitant to contest due to the high costs involved in running a presidential campaign.

“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.

Akande further revealed that many people who suggested the presidency to Tinubu were met with resistance. Concerned about his hesitation, Akande travelled to Lagos to speak with him directly.

Using Yoruba cultural references, Akande framed the presidency as a collective necessity rather than a personal ambition.

*“We don’t want you to be president because of you. You are unimportant in this matter. But in Yoruba tradition, when you worship the deity, you take the fattest animal or the biggest yam.

Yoruba wants to be president, and you are the one we have now,”* Akande said.

This reasoning left Tinubu momentarily speechless. “He was looking at me as if I was sick or something,” Akande said, adding that Tinubu later raised concerns about his health.

However, Akande reassured him, “Go and do it. There is still time. You will heal in six months.”

Akande also discussed the challenges Tinubu faced on his path to the presidency, particularly the #EndSARS protests. He alleged that the movement was orchestrated to end Tinubu’s political career.

“#EndSARS was designed to be the end of Tinubu,” he claimed, further alleging that “The Obidients were behind it. It was manufactured from America and brought in just to stop him.”

Akande clarified that he did not mean Labour Party’s Peter Obi specifically but referred to the broader Obidient movement.

In the interview, Akande also revealed his role in nominating Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. He recounted that in 2011, when Tinubu was in discussions with Muhammadu Buhari about replacing Tunde Bakare as a running mate, he suggested Osinbajo for the role.

However, during the 2023 presidential primaries, Osinbajo did not step down for Tinubu despite efforts to avoid division among Yoruba candidates.

When asked whether former President Buhari opposed Tinubu’s candidacy, Akande denied it, stating that Buhari assured him he did not influence Osinbajo’s decision.

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Akande concluded by acknowledging Tinubu’s evolution as a political leader. *“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.”