Babafemi Ojudu, a former Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, has claimed that Buhari never intended for either his then vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, or former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu to succeed him as president. Ojudu shared these allegations during a recent appearance on the “Edmund Obilo’s State Affairs” podcast, aired on Monday.
Ojudu, who served in the Office of the Vice President during Buhari’s tenure, stated that he had predicted Osinbajo’s loss in the primaries. He explained that the system in place made it clear to him that efforts such as campaigning and addressing delegates were only part of the equation, with much more depending on Buhari’s support. “I used to say at meetings that all our campaigning and efforts were only 40% of the battle,” Ojudu noted. “Sixty percent was in Buhari’s hands. Without his mobilization of his team—governors, aides, and supporters—we weren’t going anywhere.”
He further revealed that Buhari, whom he referred to as a “one-man majority,” did not rally his team around Osinbajo, allowing Tinubu to outmaneuver the vice president in several ways.
Reflecting on his support for Osinbajo, Ojudu compared him to the late Western Region Premier, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, praising Osinbajo’s capacity, knowledge, and patriotism. “I supported Osinbajo because I believed, having worked closely with him, that he was the best person at that time to lead Nigeria,” Ojudu said. “For me, it felt like losing Awolowo all over again because Osinbajo possessed the same qualities of capacity, dedication, and commitment.”