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Tinubu Feared For His Health, But I Convinced Him To Become President For Yoruba Interest – Akande
In a revealing interview on State Affairs with Edmund Obilo, published on YouTube on Wednesday, Akande claimed that Tinubu was initially hesitant, citing financial constraints and personal doubts.
“When I met him, he said, ‘Baba, do you have money? If I had the kind of money people have to be president, I would rank with Dangote,’” Akande recalled. It was a surprising admission from a man widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most formidable political figures.
But it wasn’t just about money. Tinubu, according to Akande, actively resisted discussions about his candidacy. “People called me and said, ‘Come, there is trouble. Anybody that talks to him about the presidency, he quarrels with them,’” Akande said. Concerned, the elder statesman traveled to Lagos for a personal intervention.
When words of encouragement failed, Akande turned to tradition. He framed Tinubu’s candidacy not as a personal ambition but as a necessary sacrifice for the Yoruba people.
“I told him, ‘We don’t want you to be president because of you. You are unimportant in this matter. But in Yoruba tradition, when you want to worship the deity, you take the fattest animal or the biggest yam to worship. Yoruba wants to be president, and you are the one we have now. It is to sacrifice you so that we can have a president, not for you to be anything.’”
The approach stunned Tinubu. “He was looking at me as if I was sick or something,” Akande recounted. But it planted a seed of possibility.
Still, Tinubu hesitated. “Baba, you now say I should run. What about this, my leg?” he asked, referring to his known health challenges. Akande was unwavering. “Go and do it. There is still time. You will heal in six months.”
Even after Tinubu finally embraced the idea of running, the road ahead was fraught with challenges. Akande claimed that the #EndSARS protests were part of a larger effort to end Tinubu’s political career.
“#EndSARS was designed to be the end of Tinubu,” he alleged. When asked who orchestrated it, he pointed fingers at the Obidient movement. “The Obidients were behind #EndSARS. It was manufactured from America and brought in just to stop him.”
Akande quickly clarified that he was not referring to Peter Obi directly, but rather to a movement that, in his view, emerged from the protests and later attempted to form a political party.
Akande also shed light on the complex political maneuvering behind Tinubu’s rise. He revealed that he played a key role in Yemi Osinbajo’s selection as vice president in 2015.
“In 2011, Tinubu was discussing with Buhari about replacing Pastor Tunde Bakare as running mate. I told Tinubu, ‘I’m going to recommend Osinbajo,’ and I did.”
However, that alliance was later tested. During the 2022 presidential primaries, Osinbajo refused to step down for Tinubu, despite efforts to prevent internal discord among Yoruba candidates.
When asked if former President Muhammadu Buhari opposed Tinubu’s candidacy, Akande dismissed the speculation. “He didn’t tell me so,” he said. “I asked him many questions, including whether he instigated Osinbajo to contest against Tinubu. He said no and explained that, in his culture, when your mentor is interested in a position, you don’t contest with him.”
Akande ended with a candid reflection on Tinubu’s evolution as a political strategist.
“He may have known a lot about the politics of Lagos and America, but he was very ignorant about the politics of Nigeria. Now that he is president, I don’t know how much he has learned.”
It’s a striking statement, suggesting that even the most powerful leaders remain, at their core, students of politics—shaped not just by their ambitions but by the forces, allies, and histories that push them forward.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has nabbed a renowned business executive and socialite, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu.
Her legal team made this known in a statement on Tuesday, emphasizing that Achimugu, who arrived voluntarily into the country from London, was arrested around 5 a.m. on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, her lawyer had reportedly told the Federal High Court in Abuja that she had already stated in her court documents that she would visit the EFCC today in connection with its ongoing investigation into an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered Achimugu to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, to respond to allegations related to an ongoing investigation.
The court also directed that she must be present before it on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, to continue proceedings in the matter.
The Chairman of Ward 1 of the Labour Party (LP) in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, Okasime Olowojoba, has been kidnapped while traveling along the Auchi-Benin-Ibillo Road.
The incident occurred on Saturday near Sasaro, a location notorious for frequent cases of abduction. Olowojoba, who also works as a realtor, was reportedly returning to Igarra after visiting Auchi to pick up his children following their holiday break.
According to reports, the assailants initially seized everyone in the vehicle — Olowojoba, his children, and a house help — but later freed the children and the domestic aide, taking only Olowojoba deep into the forest.
A family member speaking with Vanguard on Monday revealed that the kidnappers are demanding a ransom of N50 million for his release.
The source explained, “Valentine Okasime Olowojoba was returning with his children when he was ambushed and kidnapped around Sasaro. The lack of network service throughout Saturday delayed any contact with the kidnappers until Sunday afternoon.”
“The attackers abandoned the vehicle at the scene and took him away. His brother later confirmed that a N50 million ransom has been demanded. We also heard reports of additional abductions in the same area on Sunday,” the source added.
Efforts to reach the Edo State Police spokesperson, Moses Yamu, for confirmation were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered.
Vanguard
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a N1 billion suit instituted against former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele over the hardships that trailed the 2023 Naira redesign policy.
The judge threw out the suit instituted by an Abuja based legal practitioner, Uthman Isa Tochukwu on the grounds of lack of diligent prosecution of the case.
In a ruling on Monday, Justice Ekwo said that he was convinced that the plaintiff had deliberately abandoned his own case due to his persistent absence in court without legal representation and any explanation.
The plaintiff in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/418/2023 had dragged the former President, Attorney General of the Federation, former governor of the CBN, CBN and two commercial banks before the court claiming that they inflicted series of hardships on him during the redesign of the Naira.
In the suit filed on his behalf by his counsel, Bala Dakum, the plaintiff alleged that his fundamental rights to freedom of movement and dignity of his person were violently breached.
Specifically, the legal practitioner claimed his movement was curtailed while his money in the two commercial banks could not be assessed during the hardship occasioned by the redesign of the Naira in January and March 2023.
He therefore prayed the court to award N1 billion damages against the defendants to be paid to him for the breach of his fundamental rights.
However, at Monday’s proceedings, both the plaintiff and his counsel were not in court and did not offer any excuse for their absence.
Counsel to the 3rd and 4th defendants (Emefiele and CBN) Mr Chikelue Amasiani drew the attention of Justice Ekwo to the persistent absence of the plaintiff and his counsel in court during past proceedings.
He prayed the judge to strike out the suit and that the plaintiff can come back to revive the case when ready to show seriousness.
In a brief ruling, Justice Ekwo agreed with the lawyer and struck out the suit.
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