[Video] EndSARS Aimed at Ending Tinubu’s Political Career – Bisi Akande

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Former Osun State Governor and elder statesman, Chief Bisi Akande, has revealed the political intrigues and behind-the-scenes manoeuvres that led to Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s emergence as Nigeria’s president.

As a former Chairman of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), Akande played a crucial role in convincing Tinubu to pursue the presidency, navigating various challenges along the way.

In an interview, State Affairs with Edmund Obilo, published via YouTube, on Wednesday, Akande admitted that he actively encouraged and supported Tinubu’s presidential ambition, stating, “I instigated him. I encouraged him. I worked for it.” He recalled confronting Tinubu when he hesitated about running due to financial constraints.

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Chief Bisi Akande, has revealed the political intrigues and behind-the-scenes manoeuvres that led to Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s emergence as Nigeria’s president.

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EndSARS Aimed at Ending Tinubu’s Political Career – Bisi Akande

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According to Akande, Tinubu expressed concerns about the enormous costs of a presidential campaign, to which Akande responded, “We don’t want you to be president because of you. Yoruba people want to be president, and you are our best option.”

Beyond financial concerns, Tinubu initially hesitated due to health issues, particularly problems with his legs. However, after persistent persuasion, he sought medical treatment and eventually prepared for the race.

Akande also alleged that the EndSARS protests were strategically orchestrated to derail Tinubu’s political ambitions. He claimed that external influences, including funding from the United States, were behind the movement, which he believed was designed to weaken Tinubu’s standing.

“EndSARS was aimed at ending Tinubu’s political career,” Akande asserted, linking the protests to members of the ‘Obedient’ movement that later supported Peter Obi’s presidential bid. According to him, the movement failed to establish a strong political structure after the protests.

Addressing speculations about former President Muhammadu Buhari’s stance on Tinubu’s ambition, Akande disclosed that Buhari denied encouraging Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to contest against Tinubu. He narrated conversations with Buhari, where the former president emphasized that, in his culture, a protégé should not compete against his mentor.

Akande also confirmed his instrumental role in selecting Osinbajo as Buhari’s running mate in 2015, stating, “I recommended Osinbajo after consulting with Tinubu.” He added that Buhari later acknowledged Tinubu’s political acumen by appointing him as co-chairman of his re-election campaign in 2019.

Internal opposition within the APC posed another challenge before the primaries. Akande revealed that certain individuals close to the presidency attempted to frustrate Tinubu’s candidacy by encouraging other aspirants to contest.

“Many people were invited by certain individuals close to the presidency to pick up forms and run,” he said, without naming specific figures. However, some APC governors, particularly from the North, resisted these efforts and pushed for power to shift to the South, ultimately favoring Tinubu’s candidacy.

Following Tinubu’s victory, Akande deliberately stepped away from politics, choosing to retire to his hometown in Ila, Osun State. He dismissed speculations that he was avoiding the Tinubu administration, clarifying that he did not seek a ministerial or political appointment.

“I don’t want to be a minister. I don’t want to be anything,” he said. However, he noted that Tinubu later called him and urged him to remain engaged, saying, ‘Baba, you encouraged me to run, and now you are running away.’

Assessing Tinubu’s presidency so far, Akande expressed confidence in his leadership, stating that Nigeria was on the right track. While acknowledging economic and security challenges, he argued that Tinubu inherited a struggling economy and was taking steps to stabilize it.

“Nigeria was almost gone. The government had borrowed beyond limits, even printing money at some point,” he noted. Though he refrained from directly blaming Buhari’s administration for the economic downturn, he admitted that the APC struggled to manage the country’s finances effectively. Despite ongoing security concerns, he insisted that Tinubu’s policies were restoring stability.

Akande also dismissed claims that the APC wrecked Nigeria’s economy, asserting that the country was already in dire straits before the party took over. He maintained that progress was being made under Tinubu’s administration.

Looking ahead, he revealed that he is working on another book documenting his observations on Nigeria’s evolving political landscape. While he did not disclose specific details, he hinted that the book would shed more light on the internal political dynamics leading up to Tinubu’s presidency and the future of the APC.

With Tinubu’s administration approaching two years, Akande remains optimistic that the government is heading in the right direction despite prevailing economic hardships and security concerns.

“Peace is coming back, and the economy is becoming more stable,” he asserted, urging Nigerians to remain patient and supportive of the administration’s efforts.