Akande refutes Lawal’s claims, says Buhari backed Osinbajo’s 2022 bid
Laolu Akande, former spokesperson for ex‑Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has dismissed allegations by ex‑Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal that President Muhammadu Buhari viewed Osinbajo’s 2022 presidential ambition as “immoral” and that a memo listing over 20 proposed staff was delayed by Buhari’s chief of staff. Akande, who served as Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity from 2015 to 2023, said he was responding because he witnessed those decisions firsthand. He stated that Buhari personally offered to support Osinbajo at least four times, quoting the president: “If I don’t support you, who will I support?” and recalled Buhari praising Osinbajo’s dignified, issues‑based campaign at a Federal Executive Council meeting. Akande also denied the existence of the 20‑name memo, explaining that Osinbajo had direct access to Buhari, submitted memos to Chief of Staff Ade Ipaye for agency implementation, and that the SGF’s office only issued appointment letters. He noted the vice‑president’s office was pan‑Nigerian, citing Ipaye (a Muslim) as deputy chief of staff and three of four special advisers being Muslims, contradicting claims of a narrow religious agenda. Osinbajo lost the APC presidential primary to Bola Tinubu in June 2022. Given these opposing accounts from former aides, how should Nigerians assess the credibility of such political allegations moving forward?