Ex-Aide Says Buhari Fully Supported Osinbajo’s 2023 Ambition

A former adviser to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has rejected claims that the late President Muhammadu Buhari opposed Osinbajo’s bid for the presidency in 2023, insisting that Buhari offered consistent and unambiguous support.

Babafemi Ojudu, who served as political adviser to Osinbajo, said allegations contained in a recently published biography were misleading and relied on hearsay rather than verified accounts. He maintained that Buhari discussed the succession question with Osinbajo on several occasions and encouraged him to pursue his ambition if he believed it was the right decision.

According to Ojudu, Buhari repeatedly expressed confidence in Osinbajo’s capacity to lead, citing his experience in government, loyalty to the administration and understanding of state affairs. He said this support was conveyed both privately and publicly, including during Federal Executive Council meetings and conversations with governors.

Ojudu criticised the author of the biography for failing to seek input from key figures directly involved, describing the work as advocacy rather than objective history. He argued that serious historical accounts must reflect multiple perspectives, especially when dealing with sensitive political transitions.