Akande Defends Osinbajo, Claims Buhari Offered Support

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. Akande asserted that Buhari had offered to support Osinbajo's ambition on at least four occasions leading up to the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary.

He described Lawal's claims as false, particularly the assertion that Buhari deemed Osinbajo's ambition "immoral." Akande emphasized that Buhari praised Osinbajo's campaign during a Federal Executive Council meeting, indicating encouragement rather than disapproval. Additionally, Akande dismissed Lawal's account of 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 approvals.