Akande Defends Osinbajo, Disputes Buhari's Alleged Stance

Laolu Akande, who served as the spokesman for former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo from 2015 to 2023, countered claims made by Babachir Lawal, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, regarding Muhammadu Buhari's stance on Osinbajo's 2023 presidential bid. Lawal asserted that Buhari deemed Osinbajo's ambition inappropriate due to his ties with President Bola Tinubu and described the bid as "highly immoral and distasteful." Akande refuted these claims, stating that Buhari had offered to support Osinbajo's presidential aspirations on at least four occasions leading up to the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary.

He emphasized that Buhari publicly praised Osinbajo's campaign during a Federal Executive Council meeting. Additionally, Akande dismissed Lawal's claims about a memo listing staff members recommended by Osinbajo as fabricated, asserting that no such document existed and that Osinbajo had direct access to Buhari for submitting memos.