Buhari considered Osinbajo’s 2023 presidential bid against Tinubu indecent — Babachir Lawal

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has claimed that former President Muhammadu Buhari considered it improper for Yemi Osinbajo to challenge Bola Tinubu for the All Progressives Congress presidential ticket in 2022.

Lawal made the claim during an interview with Symfoni TV, while discussing political succession and President Tinubu’s relationship with Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

According to SaharaReporters, which monitored the interview, Lawal said Buhari never expressly disclosed his concerns but that he interpreted them from the former president’s behaviour.

“But from his actions and his body language, I could see that he was scared that if Osinbajo became president, what Bola is doing, he will do,” Lawal said.

He added: “But again, he has this, he didn’t think it was decent of Osinbajo to contest with Bola Tinubu. And everybody knew that now. Everybody was grumbling about that now.”

Lawal suggested that Buhari considered Tinubu’s past political support relevant to the party’s nomination.

“He’s the man who recommended him for president and Bola wants it,” he said.

Earlier, The PUNCH reported Lawal’s claims about Buhari’s reservations concerning Tinubu’s candidacy.

Osinbajo, who served as vice-president from 2015 to 2023, contested the APC presidential primary in June 2022, which Tinubu won.

Lawal also recalled Buhari’s insistence on selecting ministers without interference from influential political figures.

He said Buhari nevertheless appreciated former Lagos governor Babatunde Fashola’s support for the APC, including offers to finance party activities.

His account represents his interpretation of Buhari’s thinking, rather than a directly documented statement from the former president.