Laolu Akande, former spokesperson to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has dismissed claims by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, that late President Muhammadu Buhari did not fully support Osinbajo’s ambition to succeed him in the 2023 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Akande, in a lengthy statement on Saturday, described Lawal’s allegations as fabrications, insisting that he was directly involved in many of the decisions surrounding Osinbajo’s time in office and was therefore in a position to clarify what happened.

He maintained that Buhari had fully supported Osinbajo’s presidential ambition, contrary to Lawal’s account.

Lawal had made the claims during an interview with Symfoni TV, where he suggested that Buhari’s personal values, relationship with President Bola Tinubu and concerns over some of Osinbajo’s actions while serving as acting president may have influenced his level of support.

The former SGF argued that if Buhari genuinely wanted his administration’s policies and achievements to continue after leaving office, backing Osinbajo would have been a natural choice, given that he had served as vice president for eight years.

However, Akande rejected that position, saying Buhari had repeatedly expressed his willingness to support Osinbajo.

“I have watched the video in which former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, made a string of allegations against former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. Ordinarily, such fabrications would not deserve a response.

“But I served as the Vice President’s spokesperson. I was in the room where many of these decisions were taken. And the allegations touch directly on the staff of the Office of the Vice President — of which I was a part. For the sake of the record, facts only must be stated,” Akande said.

Akande: Buhari Never Considered Osinbajo’s Ambition Immoral

Addressing Lawal’s claim that Buhari considered Osinbajo’s 2022 presidential ambition “immoral”, Akande described the allegation as false.

He said Buhari had personally offered to support the former vice president on at least four occasions.

“On at least four separate occasions, President Buhari personally offered to support the Vice President, telling him plainly: ‘If I don’t support you, who will I support?’” he stated.

Akande also recalled that during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries in 2022, Buhari publicly commended Osinbajo at a Federal Executive Council meeting for conducting an issue-based and dignified campaign across the country.

According to him, the president’s remarks were witnessed by members of the council and demonstrated that Buhari did not consider Osinbajo’s ambition inappropriate.

“That is not a President who found Osinbajo’s ambition distasteful. That is a President who broached it, encouraged and applauded it,” Akande added.

Former Aide Denies Alleged Memo Containing Staff Names

Akande also dismissed Lawal’s claim that Osinbajo had submitted a memo containing more than 20 staff names, which was allegedly delayed by Buhari’s Chief of Staff before Lawal took it to the president.

He insisted that no such memo existed and rejected the suggestion that Buhari had made an ethnically charged remark about the proposed staff members.

“Anyone who knew President Buhari knows he does not engage in the kind of snide ethnic profiling Mr. Lawal attributed to him — ‘BD, these are all Yorubas.’ That language and that conduct are alien to President Buhari,” he said.

Akande explained that Osinbajo had direct access to Buhari and routinely submitted memos to him for approval. Once approved, the documents were passed to Osinbajo’s Chief of Staff, Ade Ipaye, who then communicated with the relevant agencies.

He said the process did not require the SGF’s involvement, except for the subsequent issuance of appointment letters.

Akande further disputed Lawal’s claim that the alleged memo was delayed for three months, noting that he resumed work in the Office of the Vice President in June 2015 alongside several other staff members.

According to him, the appointments were made through different batches of memos submitted at various times as the office was being established and government policies evolved.

“What actually happened in 2015 is that Osinbajo took different batches of memos to the President at different times for different categories of staff as the office was being set up and as government policies evolved. That is standard practice,” he explained.

“There was never a single, bloated, religiously and ethnically-charged list.”

Akande also alleged that by the time many of the appointments were made, Lawal had already been removed from office by Buhari over allegations of corruption.

Akande Rejects Claim That Osinbajo Appointed Church Members

The former presidential aide also rejected Lawal’s allegation that Osinbajo appointed people because they belonged to his church, describing the claim as inconsistent with the composition of the former vice president’s team.

He said the Office of the Vice President had an inclusive workforce that reflected different parts of the country and accommodated both Christians and Muslims.

“The Office was one of the most inclusive, pan-Nigerian offices in that government — North, South, East, West, Christian and Muslim.

“To suggest a narrow church agenda is not only to ignore the facts, but to pursue a curious and worrying vendetta,” Akande said.

To support his position, he highlighted the religious and regional diversity of the team.

He noted that Ade Ipaye, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, was a Muslim and a distinguished lawyer. He also said three of Osinbajo’s four special advisers were Muslims, including Maryam Uwais, Special Adviser on Social Investment, and Ahmad Zakari, Special Adviser on Infrastructure.

Other members of the team included Babafemi Ojudu, Adeyemi Dipeolu, Balkisu Saidu, Abdullahi Gwary, Emmanuel Bright, Edobor Iyamu, Ismaeel Ahmed, Olayinka Oyeneyin, Fadi Rose Audu, Imeh Patience Okon, Lillian Idiaghe, Arukaino Umukoro, Daniel Ikuenobe, Folarin Alayande, Effiong Essien and Olaolu Beckley.

The wider team also included Abdulrahman Baffa, Rotimi Akinnadeju, Novo Isioro, Feyishayo Aina, Gambo Manzo, Hafiz Ibrahim, Nonye Ojekwe, Nicholas Audifferen, Ayoleke Adu, Ajuri Ngelale, Louis Odion, Foluso Idumu, Edewede Akhidenor, Lanre Osibona, Tolani Alli, Tola Asekun, Damilola Ogunbiyi, Mariam Masha, Chiedu Ugbo, Jumoke Oduwole, Muktar Tijani, Tochi Nwachukwu, Mohammed Brimah, Yahaya Maibe, Jibola Ajayi, Ife Adebayo, Myani Bukar, Nkoli Anyaoku, Phil Obin and Lillian Chukwueke, among others.

“This was a truly national team. It was never a church list,” Akande maintained.

Akande also disputed Lawal’s claim that a pastor who took over Osinbajo’s parish in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) was appointed minister because of his relationship with the former vice president.

He identified the person in question as Dr. Okey Enelamah, explaining that Enelamah was heading one of Africa’s largest private equity firms when he was appointed.

According to Akande, two people in the financial services industry proposed Enelamah, while Buhari’s then Chief of Staff, the late Abba Kyari, informed Osinbajo that the president wanted to appoint him.

Akande said he personally asked Osinbajo about the matter when speculation emerged that the former vice president had recommended Enelamah for the position.

“I had assumed, like many others, that because Enelamah was close to Osinbajo, he must have nominated him. He did not,” Akande said, adding that Enelamah could confirm the account.

Akande Defends Osinbajo’s Decisions As Acting President

On Lawal’s criticism of board appointments made while Osinbajo served as acting president, Akande said the former vice president acted within his constitutional powers.

He explained that Osinbajo was required to review lists of nominees before forwarding them for confirmation, adding that any changes were based on legal and professional requirements.

According to Akande, the adjustments were made to ensure compliance with provisions relating to federal character, age, qualifications and professional standards.

He added that Buhari was fully briefed on the changes upon his return and did not object to them.

“Due process, not personal preference, guided those decisions,” Akande stated.

Akande concluded by suggesting that Lawal’s claims might be connected to lingering resentment over his removal as SGF.

He said Lawal’s removal followed allegations that had also been examined by the Senate and the Attorney-General’s report.

Akande further stated that Osinbajo had chaired an investigation into the allegations against Lawal and claimed that evidence provided by the former SGF himself implicated him.

“Personal grievance cannot justify the manufacture of falsehoods against a man who served with integrity,” he said.

Akande maintained that Osinbajo served Buhari loyally for eight years and led an inclusive team that reflected Nigeria’s diversity.

“Prof. Osinbajo served President Buhari loyally for eight years, without blemish, with an inclusive team that reflected the best of Nigeria. The records are there for anyone who cares to check,” he concluded.