By Newsmata
Amid untold suffering by Nigerians due to President Bola Tinubu’s adverse economic policies, former Osun State Governor and elder statesman, Chief Bisi Akande, on Wednesday struggled to exonerate the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the president from the parlous state of the economy and the hardship in the land.
In an interview, State Affairs with Edmund Obilo, published on Wednesday via YouTube, the octogenarian former chairman of the APC though admitted that under former President Muhammadu Buhari “Nigeria was almost gone”, noting that “the government had borrowed beyond limits, even printing money at some point,” he however curiously dismissed claims that the APC wrecked Nigeria’s economy.
Insisting that the country was already in dire straits before the APC took over in 2015, Akande said despite the perceived mismanagement under Buhari, the APC struggled to manage the country’s finances effectively.
Appraising Tinubu’s presidency so far, Akande expressed confidence in his leadership, stating that Nigeria was on the right track, as progress was being made, and his policies were restoring stability.
In the bare-it-all interview, Chief Akande revealed the political intrigues and behind-the-scenes manoeuvres that led to Tinubu’s emergence as Nigeria’s president.
Highlighting the pivotal role he played as APC national chairman, Akande told his host: “I instigated him. I encouraged him. I worked for it.”
He recalled confronting Tinubu when he hesitated about running due to financial constraints. According to Akande, Tinubu expressed concerns about the enormous costs of a presidential campaign, to which Akande responded, “We don’t want you to be president because of you. Yoruba people want to be president, and you are our best option.”
Beyond financial concerns, he said Tinubu initially hesitated due to health issues, particularly problems with his legs. However, after persistent persuasion, he sought medical treatment and eventually prepared for the race.
Akande alleged that the EndSARS protests were strategically orchestrated to derail Tinubu’s political ambition, adding that external influences, including funding from the United States, were behind the movement, which he believed was designed to weaken Tinubu’s standing.
Further alleging that “EndSARS was aimed at ending Tinubu’s political career,” Akande linked the protests to members of the ‘Obedient’ movement that later supported Peter Obi’s presidential bid, noting that the movement failed to establish a strong political structure after the protests.
Addressing speculations about former President Buhari’s stance on Tinubu’s ambition, Akande disclosed that Buhari denied encouraging Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to contest against Tinubu. He narrated conversations with Buhari, where the former president emphasised that, in his culture, a protégé should not compete against his mentor.
Akande also confirmed his instrumental role in selecting Osinbajo as Buhari’s running mate in 2015, stating, “I recommended Osinbajo after consulting with Tinubu.”
He said Buhari later acknowledged Tinubu’s political acumen by appointing him as co-chairman of his re-election campaign in 2019.
Speaking on the internal opposition within the APC to Tinubu’s ambition before the APC primary election, Akande stated that certain individuals close to the presidency attempted to frustrate Tinubu’s candidacy by encouraging other aspirants to contest.
Though he was silent on the identity of such persons, Akande said “Many people were invited by certain individuals close to the presidency to pick up forms and run”, a move he said was resisted by some APC governors, particularly from the North who pushed for power to shift to the South which ultimately favoured Tinubu’s candidacy.
He said following Tinubu’s victory, he deliberately stepped away from politics, choosing to retire to his hometown in Ila, Osun State.
He was quick to dismiss speculations that he was avoiding the Tinubu administration, clarifying that he did not seek a ministerial or political appointment.
“I don’t want to be a minister. I don’t want to be anything,” he said. However, he noted that Tinubu later called him and urged him to remain engaged, saying, ‘Baba, you encouraged me to run, and now you are running away.’
Looking ahead, he revealed that he is working on another book documenting his observations on Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
Though he kept specific details close to his chest, Chief Akande hinted that the book would shed more light on the internal political dynamics leading up to Tinubu’s presidency and the future of the APC.
With Tinubu’s administration approaching two years, Akande remained optimistic that the government was heading in the right direction despite prevailing economic hardships and security concerns.
“Peace is coming back, and the economy is becoming more stable,” he asserted, urging Nigerians to remain patient and supportive of the administration’s efforts.