“For Eight Years, Buhari’s Govt. Relegated Tinubu To The Background” – Fmr. Presidential Aide, Laolu Akande

By Gideon Njoku 

A former Presidential Aide, Laolu Akande, has said that President Bola Tinubu was relegated to the background during the Government of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

Akande was the  Senior Special Assistant to former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in which position he was an insider to a number of happenings in the  Presidency.

Speaking during an interview with Symfoni TV, Akande disclosed that Tinubu, who, ironically was the Leader of the Party in power, the All Progressives Congress, APC, was so disregarded that at some meetings, he, Tinubu, was made to sit behind him, Akande.

According to him:  “President Bola Tinubu was politically marginalised between 2015 and 2023, despite his influence in the ruling party. I personally witnessed instances where Tinubu was made to sit behind me during political meetings.”

But in all that, he admitted that Tinubu remained patient through the period and meticulously pursued his presidential ambition.

Akande also noted that one of the obstacles Tinubu had to overcome was the redesigning of the Naira ahead of the 2023. Not a few people thought at the time that it was aimed at weakening then candidate Tinubu’s access to funds for his Presidential Campaign.