Akande Defends Osinbajo, Claims Buhari Offered Support

Laolu Akande, former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Yemi Osinbajo, responded to allegations made by Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, regarding Osinbajo's presidential aspirations. Akande described Lawal's claims as "pure fiction," particularly rejecting the assertion that the late President Muhammadu Buhari viewed Osinbajo's pursuit of the All Progressives Congress presidential ticket against Bola Tinubu as "highly immoral" and "distasteful." Akande disclosed that Buhari had offered to support Osinbajo's presidential bid on at least four occasions, stating, "If I don’t support you, who will I support?" Lawal had claimed that Buhari would have found it inappropriate for Osinbajo to challenge Tinubu due to their political ties, although he admitted he did not discuss this with Buhari.

Akande insisted that Buhari's actions contradicted Lawal's portrayal, affirming that the President was supportive of Osinbajo's ambitions.