₦airaland Forum

Babafemi Ojudu, an ex-presidential adviser, has countered Charles Omole’s claims about the presidential ambition of former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

In a biography titled From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, unveiled at the State House on Monday, Omole, who authored the book, said the late former president did not back Osinbajo’s presidential ambition, primarily because incumbent President Bola Tinubu was also in the presidential race.

Omole added that Buhari found it “strange” that Osinbajo would contest against Tinubu, whom he regarded as the vice-president’s political benefactor.

Quoting sources close to the late president, Omole said Buhari remarked, “I don’t know Osinbajo from anywhere; I met him only through Tinubu.”

The author wrote that sources said, “Buhari was not impressed that Osinbajo did not ‘consult’ him or seek his advice.”

However, in a statement on Thursday, Ojudu, who served as the special adviser to the president on political matters in the office of the vice-president from 2016 to 2022, maintained that Osinbajo discussed his presidential ambition with Buhari on four different occasions.

He recounted occasions in which Buhari advised Osinbajo about his presidential ambition, adding that the late president even said the former vice-president was “by far the best person for the job”.

The former presidential adviser said Osinbajo “could not realistically have contemplated a presidential run without the active backing of” Buhari.

“The matter of whether Vice President Osinbajo should run for President was discussed directly and personally between him and President Muhammadu Buhari on no fewer than four separate occasions,” Ojudu said.

“On each of these occasions, President Buhari expressed clear, unequivocal support for the Vice President’s ambition.

“At no time — explicitly or implicitly — did President Buhari suggest that Professor Osinbajo should refrain from contesting.

“At no time did he indicate a preference that the Vice President should defer to, step aside for, or subordinate his ambition to any other aspirant, including the eventual nominee of the party.

“On the first occasion, President Buhari advised the Vice President to reflect carefully on the prospects of a presidential bid, make up his mind and assured him that he would support whatever decision he took.

“By the third discussion, President Buhari went further. In his considered judgment, he stated plainly that Professor Osinbajo was by far the best person for the job.”

Ojudu said anyone who writes about Buhari’s presidency must, as a matter of “fairness and inquiry”, reach out to those who are concerned for their own side of the story.

“To embark on such a project without seeking their account is not serious scholarship or history. It is advocacy masquerading as biography,” the former presidential adviser said.

“Only a hack would attempt to fix the record of a complex administration by relying on hearsay, grievance, and one-sided recollection while deliberately ignoring those who were central actors in the events being described.

“History is not written to settle scores. It is written to illuminate truth. And those who bend it to serve personal animus may enjoy a fleeting moment of attention, but they rarely survive the judgment of time.”

SlavaUkraini:
https://www.thecable.ng/ojudu-counters-charles-omoles-claims-says-osinbajo-discussed-presidential-ambition-with-buhari/

energy37:
“By the third discussion, President Buhari went further. In his considered judgment, he stated plainly that Professor Osinbajo was by far the best person for the job.”

So, Ojudu expected the President to tell Osinbajo not to contest. Who does that? No disciplined military man will ever support Osinbajo with his relationship with Tinubu. It is the highest level of betrayal.

energy37:
“By the third discussion, President Buhari went further. In his considered judgment, he stated plainly that Professor Osinbajo was by far the best person for the job.”

So, Ojudu expected the President to tell Osinbajo not to contest. Who does that? No disciplined military man will ever support Osinbajo with his relationship with Tinubu. It is the highest level of betrayal.

SlavaUkraini:
https://www.thecable.ng/ojudu-counters-charles-omoles-claims-says-osinbajo-discussed-presidential-ambition-with-buhari/

SlavaUkraini:
https://www.thecable.ng/ojudu-counters-charles-omoles-claims-says-osinbajo-discussed-presidential-ambition-with-buhari/

SlavaUkraini:
https://www.thecable.ng/ojudu-counters-charles-omoles-claims-says-osinbajo-discussed-presidential-ambition-with-buhari/

fabolouz1:
This allegation needs no rebuttal, the vice-president doesn't need his principal permission to vie for the plum job.

Timmi:
The question that the Ojudu man failed to answer is why would Osinbanjo compete with his benefactor. Buhari rightfully said Tinubu I know and Osinbnjo I don’t know because he know him when Tinubu nominated him for the position of the Vice President. Though I have a high regard for Osinbanjo but I was highly disappointed in him for betraying Tinubu. I didn’t expect that from him at all.

Kaymansion:
Apart from animosity Prof Osinbajo really pass his boundary and I don't think father of the nation would never forgive him

ScamDemicEra:
.... how pastor was able to stay all through Buhari's 8 years bloody holocaust still baffles me !!

the "deceitfulness of riches" the bible talk about is so real !

Intrepid01:
This is the problem with Nigerians, we suffer from selective amnesia. The book didn’t say that Osinbajo didn’t inform Buhari. It said Osinbajo didn’t seek his views on whether to run against Tinubu or not. There is a huge difference between informing for support and seeking advice.

energy37:
“By the third discussion, President Buhari went further. In his considered judgment, he stated plainly that Professor Osinbajo was by far the best person for the job.”

So, Ojudu expected the President to tell Osinbajo not to contest. Who does that? No disciplined military man will ever support Osinbajo with his relationship with Tinubu. It is the highest level of betrayal.

kentokay71:
Thank you very much, he was power drunk and was listening to people like OJODU and he messed up big time